In structural engineering,
a name synonymous with stature

Friends, colleagues and former students of Professor Salmon have joined in partnership to establish a professorship in his name. You are warmly invited to join in this worthwhile endeavor. Your contribution will enhance the tradition of excellence in structural engineering at the University of Wisconsin.

In structural engineering, one name stands out among all others. One name, forged through time and tenure, to define and develop structural engineering as we know it today. The individual we speak of is Professor Emeritus Charles G. Salmon, of the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Professor Salmon is widely known for his undergraduate and graduate courses in structural analysis, and in steel and reinforced concrete design. He continues to contribute to his profession through his activities in professional societies, the byproducts of which include building code revisions and a comprehensive handbook for practicing engineers.

His special areas of expertise include design of reinforced concrete structures, steel structures, highway bridges and stability of structures. The hallmarks of his lifelong contributions to the concrete and steel industries include education, research and technical leadership. The fact is, Professor Salmon influenced not only the structural design industry itself, but the minds of a new generation of engineering practitioners.

Visionary leadership in structural engineering

Anyone associated with the field of structural engineering in the past four decades will undoubtedly recognize the significance and impact of Professor Salmon's contributions to his chosen field. Our effort for the College of Engineering is not a large-scale campaign. Rather, it's a personal appeal to his circle of friends, colleagues and former students, as well as to the companies whose business revolves around the field of structural engineering.

Professor Salmon received his PhD in civil engineering in 1961. He began his remarkable career at the UW as an instructor in the Department of Civil Engineering in 1956. He progressed to full professor in 1967 and achieved emeritus status in 1989.

His academic career was at all times underscored by worthy contributions to the art and science of structural engineering, by his leadership in the development of codes and textbooks, and through his lifelong teaching and mentorship of students.

Professor Salmon has long been regarded as a prolific author, and creator of learning and reference materials in structural engineering. He collaborated with numerous structures faculty members. One such collaboration, with Professor C.K. Wang, resulted in the widely referenced text, Reinforced Concrete Design. Professor Salmon authored or co-authored additional internationally known texts including Steel Structures: Design and Behavior and Introductory Structural Analysis. He served as senior- or contributing author to more than 40 professional papers on many aspects of steel and concrete design and construction.

He has also contributed through the years by participating as an invited lecturer at sessions of the American Institute of Steel Construction, the American Concrete Institute and many others.

Professor Salmon's research and keen insight has given us greater capabilities in structural engineering. The human relationships he fostered — such as those between student and teacher, young professional and mentor — provide the understanding we need to best apply them.

A tribute to a distinguished teacher

Perhaps even more noteworthy than his many presentations and publications were the lives — and eventual careers — of the students he touched. Always an effective teacher, Professor Salmon's enthusiasm for his subject and vast knowledge of current engineering developments motivated his students and stimulated their interest in structural engineering.

One of the greatest satisfactions any teacher can aspire to with his students is the inspiration and drive to succeed and to refine current practices. To that end, Professor Salmon gained widespread admiration for his dedication and perseverance. He possesses an enthusiasm for structural engineering that is nothing short of contagious. Among Professor Salmon's hundreds of students, many have achieved prominent positions in professional and academic fields.

Of coffee, commitments and colleagueship

"Professor Salmon's teaching was thorough and rigorous. Yet he always maintained a relaxed atmosphere in the classroom. And who else made a big pot of coffee every day for his 7:45 a.m. classes?"

Mark Blaskey, PE, President
Abacus Consulting, Inc.
Altoona, WI

"Rather than blindly following the designed formula contended in the conventional teaching approach, he added ways of analytic thinking to his students, which, in turn, paved a solid background for further study."

Surakhuang Asavanich, PE, PhD
President and CEO
Thai Sumiden Engineering and Construction Co., Ltd.
Bangkok, Thailand

To the hundreds of students who learned in Professor Salmon's structures courses, he is warmly regarded for his professional commitments, colleagueship, and — coffee. Arriving each morning before his class, Professor Salmon brewed fresh coffee and served it to students in his first lectures of the day. It's a kindly gesture that his students have remembered well through the years.

His dedication to teaching, however, did not end in the classroom. Throughout his remarkable career, and to this day, Professor Salmon remains an individual committed to structural engineering. His honors and awards include:

He is one of just 170 honorary members of the American Society of Civil Engineers, which has more than 130,000 members worldwide. Such a distinction is granted to just a few ASCE members who have achieved acknowledged eminence in their fields.
He served as national president of Chi Epsilon from 1994-96
Among his many professional awards are the 1982 UW

The true measure

The true measure of any educational organization rests on the foundation of its faculty. Through the Charles G. Salmon Professorship, the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering seeks to endow a professorship in his name. Faculty members who hold such professorships are scholars of international reputation. Such endowments make it possible for them to enhance their teaching and research programs, and to introduce and involve their students in the same vigorous pursuit of knowledge.

Your support of The Charles G. Salmon Professorship assures that your name, or that of your organization, will be associated with the growth and development of structural engineering for years to come.

Extra measures of excellence

The UW College of Engineering seeks to support the Charles G. Salmon Professorship with an endowment of $1,000,000. The endowed gifts will be invested to generate sufficient income to support the designated purpose in perpetuity. Endowments such as this provide an extra measure of excellence in the College and serve as an enduring example for the College's alumni and friends.

Front cover of Salmon Professorship brochure

Salmon Professorship Brochure
464KB PDF

Building on a legacy