Illinois State University Department of Chemistry hosted Professor Emeritus of Chemistry Larry K. Krannich as its 2018 Bernard L. Ryder Distinguished Alumni Lecturer. Krannich presented to interested students, faculty, staff, and community members a talk titled “Retrospective Look and Going Forward.”
A Pekin native, Krannich earned his master’s degree in chemistry in 1965 from Illinois State and his doctorate in inorganic chemistry in 1968 from the University of Florida. He is a professor emeritus from the Department of Chemistry at University of Alabama-Birmingham, a department he helped to create from scratch in 1969. Before retiring, he served as chair there for 27 years of his 42-year career. When leading that department, he placed great emphasis on developing a quality undergraduate chemistry program and creating outreach programs for public school science teachers.
Krannich remains actively involved in the American Chemical Society (ACS) and served on the ACS Board of Directors from 2010 to 2013. He was named an ACS Fellow in 2014, the highest honor of the national organization, and has received several awards from the ACS, including the Ann E. Nalley Southeastern Volunteer Service Award. Krannich has also been previously honored by the Illinois State Chemistry Department as an Alumni Day guest.
The Ryder Distinguished Lecture series is named for Bernard L. Ryder, Ph.D. the first chair of the Department of Chemistry when it was formed in 1966. The series was established in 1988 and honors alumni who have distinguished themselves professionally. Ryder’s daughter, Mary Ryder, Ph.D., was on hand to present a certificate and honorarium check to Krannich.
