Hall of Fame Member Biographies

Billy L. Crynes

After obtaining his Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering from Purdue University in 1967, Professor Billy L. Crynes joined the faculty of Oklahoma State University and served there for twenty years, becoming the Head of the Department. He was then chosen to be Dean of the College of Engineering at the University of Oklahoma and acted in that capacity until 1998. He later retired as Professor in 2002. During his term as Dean, the College significantly advanced with its aggresive development team. The endowed chairs/professorships climbed from four to 25, annual research grants tripled and the value of the endowment funds rose by a factor of six. His emphasis on students is reflected by recruitment of National Scholars, placing the college in the top ten nationally.

The Minority Engineering program was in the top 20 in enrollment, graduation and National Scholars and was the only college in the nation significantly enrolling all three under-represented groups. The college was also the first of its type to require students to own laptop computers. Exchange programs were initiated with a university in France and one in Thailand. Crynes won five outstanding teaching awards at OSU and OU. Three times he was presented the Oklahoma Society of Professional Engineers 'membership recruitment award' and he also received the National Society of Professional Engineers award. Professor Crynes has given his talent and passion to the advancement of higher education in Oklahoma and the Higher Education Heritage Society welcomes him as a 2007 member of the Hall of Fame.