Harry Wallace Edwards

Harry Wallace Edwards passed peacefully in Littleton, CO, December 26, 2023. He was born on October 6, 1939, to Leonard and Frances Wallace Edwards in Ithaca, New York. He had two sisters, Nancy and Linda Edwards, who are both deceased. He is survived by his son, William Edwards (Overland Park, KS) and daughter, Laura Edwards-Poff (Littleton, CO) and his grandson, David Edwards (Overland Park, KS).

Harry attended high school in Las Vegas, Nevada. In 1962, he earned a B.S. in Chemistry from University of Nevada, Reno. In 1967, he earned a Ph.D. in Physical Chemistry from the University of Arizona, Tucson, where he participated in a joint venture with the College of Engineering at Colorado State University. This project later led to a full professorship at CSU. Harry lived in Fort Collins staying in touch with CSU for the rest of his life.

He married Ruth Wheeler in 1966 in Tucson, Arizona, just before assuming his new position at CSU. They were blessed by two wonderful children. After the children were grown, Harry and Ruth divorced, but remained friends. For the past 15 years, Harry shared his life with Pam Grotegut and her wonderful family. Harry lost Pam in April of 2023 and never recovered from the loss of her love and companionship. In his waning months, his daughter Laura stayed by his side to help with his care. Harry dedicated his life to education and took great joy in passing on those values to his children who both achieved university degrees.

Harry’s career at CSU spanned 41 years and included teaching, research and service. At CSU, Harry taught undergraduate and graduate classes in thermodynamics, a graduate-level class in statistical thermodynamics, and developed classes in pollution prevention and air pollution control. For ten years, Harry also taught an evening class in pollution prevention for the Environmental Policy and Management program at the University of Denver.

Harry’s teaching and research interests were often closely related. Sponsored projects include detection of silver in the atmosphere (NSF), sources, transport, and accumulation of lead in the environment (NSF), energy utilization improvement and pollution prevention in manufacturing (DOE), pollution prevention for small businesses (Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment), reduction of nitric oxide by graphite (EPA), catalyzed reduction of nitric oxide (University of Lancaster), reduction of municipal solid waste (EPA Region VIII), zero-gravity aerosol behavior (NASA), and pollution prevention on Tribal campuses (EPA Region VIII).

Harry willingly participated in CSU governance. Some assignments included service on Faculty Council, University Curriculum Committee, and the University Code Committee. He was also active in the Fort Collins community and was appointed by City Council to the Air Quality Advisory Board, the Citizen Review Board, and the Natural Resources Advisory Board. Additionally Harry served as a leader for Financial Peace University. Harry was a 50-year member of the American Chemical Society.

During his career, Harry received numerous awards for his academic achievements and technical accomplishments. These include:

2002 – Air & Waste Management Association for Service

2002 – U.S. DOE, Industrial Assessment Center Award

2001 – City of Fort Collins, Advisory Board Service Award

1998 – Colorado Public Health and Environment Pollution Prevention Award

1992 – Colorado Governor’s Celebrate Colorado Pollution Prevention Award

1991 – EPA Region VIII Outstanding Achievement Award

1990 – CSU Engineering Deans Council Award

1984 – DOE-ASEE Passive Solar Summer Fellowship

1980 – CSU Morrison Faculty Award

1977 – University of Lancaster, Senior Visiting Fellowship

1976 – CSU Interdisciplinary Environmental Research Recognition Award