Dr. Frank Speckhart, Former UT Engineering Professor, Dies
Dr. Frank H. Speckhart
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. -- Retired University of Tennessee engineering professor Dr. Frank H. Speckhart died Wednesday, Sept. 6, of pancreatic cancer. He was 65.
Speckhart, who held an IBM Engineering Professorship at UT, taught and conducted research in the university's Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Department from 1967 until retiring in the spring of this year.
Speckhart was a successful inventor, holding several patents on tools, devices for automobile engines, suspensions and safety systems, as well as an infant health monitoring system.
In 1983 and 1988 he received an Outstanding Teacher Award from UT, and was a member of the Phi Kappa Phi, Tau Beta Pi, Pi Tau Sigma and Sigma Xi honor societies.
He was instrumental in starting his college's Master of Science/Master of Business Administration joint degree program at UT.
Speckhart also worked in the Oak Ridge National Laboratories as a consultant in the area of design, vibrations and dynamics. In 1974, he was part of a team that received a $3.1 million grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation to study the City of Chattanooga's vehicle inspection system.
UT Chancellor Loren Crabtree said he was saddened by Speckhart's death.
"Frank was a wonderful teacher, a talented and successful scholar, and a consummate university citizen," Crabtree said. "Faculty members like Frank are the very heart of the university, and his energy and presence were an inspiration to us all.
"We'll miss him very much."
Dr. Way Kuo, UT engineering dean, said the loss of his colleague is difficult.
"Frank was an outstanding member of my faculty, an excellent instructor and accomplished researcher whose impact on his field will continue to be felt for years," Kuo said. "It's not easy losing him."
Speckhart is survived by his wife Lynda Speckhart, their three children, Ashley Speckhart, Stephanie Speckhart and Bradley Speckhart and three grandchildren.
Funeral services will be held Sunday, September 10 at 2 p.m. at Church Street United Methodist Church in Knoxville. Visitation will immediately follow the service.
For more information, contact: Kim Cowart, Communications Manager, Office of Engineering Communications at (865)-974-0686/kcowart@utk.edu