The Texas 10: John McKetta
There are some teachers you just don’t forget. Nominated by alumni, these professors are among the best and most inspiring on the Forty Acres. Meet this year’s Texas 10.
John McKetta
Professor Emeritus, Chemical Engineering
After nearly 70 years at UT, it’s no surprise that John McKetta has a few stories to tell.
One of his favorites is about the first—and only—time he was late to his own class. McKetta was known for having a strict policy that when the bell rang at 8 a.m., the classroom door would be locked. In turn, he promised his students if he were ever late, class would be canceled.
“That day, I swear I had half my foot in the door when the bell was ringing,” laughs McKetta, Life Member, former dean of the College of Engineering. “But my students grabbed me, lifted me up, and took me to Scholz’s Beer Garden. We got pitchers, and at 8:45, I thought, ‘My god, I have a 9 a.m. class!’”
McKetta joined the faculty at UT in 1946, where his first class consisted mostly of World War II veterans. Though the demographics of his students may have changed a bit, McKetta says teaching hasn’t.
“In my department, we were always extremely close with our students,” he says. “That hasn’t changed much.”
Case in point: even today, 97-year-old McKetta calls each of his former students on their
birthdays. The afternoon of our interview, he’s already made seven calls to Longhorns who once sat in his lecture hall.
Recognized as a global authority on the thermodynamic properties of hydrocarbons, McKetta has served as an energy advisor to Presidents Nixon, Ford, Reagan, and Bush. He’s also authored 85 books, including the 68-volume Encyclopedia for Chemical Processing and Design, a 25-year project on which he collaborated with UT students.
In November, UT’s Department of Chemical Engineering was officially renamed in McKetta’s honor—a testament to the impact he’s had on the University he’s called home for 67 years.
“I’m so proud and somewhat embarrassed,” McKetta says. “We have had giants of every level each year that I’ve been at UT. It could have been named for any of them!”
Ever humble, McKetta says he’s grateful simply for the opportunity to do what he loves.
“Almost every day that I taught, I just looked forward to going,” he says. “I don’t remember a time I didn’t like being in class.”
Below, watch a Longhorn Network video about McKetta’s career.
In 2008, UT’s Department of Chemical Engineering kicked off the Challenge for McKetta fundraising campaign, which will formally name the department in his honor. Learn more about the effort to raise $25 million for the John J. McKetta Jr. Department of Chemical Engineering here.
Meet our other Texas 10 professors here.
Photo by Matt Wright-Steel. Illustration by Erin Modglin.
Share this article
![UT Is Transforming Education [Watch]](http://alcalde.texasexes.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/Picture-2.png){kind=small}
-
Randolph: Is there any way for you to provide a scanned copy of the article in the Decembe...
-
Katie: I appreciate the good-natured sharing by all parties thus far. Interesting poin...
-
Travis '96: The part I was missing was the date of the branding. I suppose there is enough ...
-
Doug: That does indeed make it more clear. It's going to be hard to argue with a date...
-
Jordan Schraeder: Hi Travis! Thanks so much for commenting. Let me clear this up a bit: It was, li...
5 Comments
John is the most loving and compasionate instuctor I had. Last year was my 50 graduation anniversory BSChE 62. My wife and I attend the celebration and saW John again. What is amazing to my thoughts was that John gave me a hug 50 years ago at graduation stating “we made it son”. Well have gave me a hug last year or 50 years later again and thanked me for being one of “his boys”. My wife Carol and I say WOW!
John McKetta was always my favorite professor. He made it easy and fun with a great sense of humor. John was a friend of the family, having been close to my father-in-law Dr. Claude Hocott. His generosity is legendary, having donated to UT the sum of all his pay from UT. We love you John.
Elaine and Hugh Gainey BS ChE 1962
I am so privileged to know Dr. McKetta – truly one of the greatest people to walk this earth!
John McKetta taught me distillation in 1983 for my ChemE degree, and taught my father Thermodynamics back in the 50′s for dad’s Pteroleum Eng Degree. He always kept the class entertaining. Dr. McKetta is a great multi-generational icon in our family. My youngest daughter is about to matriculate as a freshman engineer and I wish John could teach her also. How fortunate we are to know John.
Dr McKetta was not only a great teacher,but he went out of his way to help undergrads with problems. My daughter,at the time a freshmand, was reluctant to ask him for scheduling help. I insisted that she go see him. He took the time to see her and make the schedule changes she needed. Anyone that had a class with him met one of the best of all time.