January 15, 2004

Crotts, Harrelson Inducted into Theta Tau 2003 Alumni Hall of Laureates

Crotts (submitted photo)		Harrelson (Photo: NC State Special Collections and University Archives)

Theta Tau, the oldest and largest professional fraternity in engineering, has inducted two College of Engineering alumni into their 2003 Alumni Hall of Laureates, the highest prestige and honor achieved by their members.

Marcus Crotts, who received his bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from North Carolina State University in 1953 and his master’s degree in mechanical engineering from the University of Illinois in 1956, is being honored for outstanding service to his profession.

A former president of the North Carolina Society of Engineers and the American Machine Tool Distributors Association, Crotts has been recognized as a Distinguished Engineering Alumnus by NC State and was named Engineer of the Year by the NC Society of Engineers. He also served as a trustee of NC State and received a Meritorious Service Award for this work. He is currently chairman of Crotts and Sanders Engineering Inc. and serves on the Board of Directors for the Society of Manufacturing Engineering.

John W. Harrelson, who received his bachelor’s degree in engineering in 1909 and his master’s degree in mechanical engineering in 1915 from NC State, has been honored posthumously for outstanding service to his profession. He served on the faculty of NC State from 1909 to 1953 and was chancellor during his last 20 years of tenure. Harrelson also was the first alumnus to serve NC State as chief administrator.

Harrelson Hall, built in 1961, was named in his honor. Harrelson, known as “Colonel” by students and faculty, twice interrupted his career at NC State for military service — as a colonel in the U.S. Army in World War I and as Deputy Chief of Specialized Training in World War II. He passed away in 1955.

— pishney —

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