Kerr, C. P.

Dr. Clayton P. Kerr has had a diversified career as a professional chemical engineer. He received his BS in chemical engineering with distinction from the University of Oklahoma in 1961. He began work at the Baton Rouge refinery of the Exxon Corporation. In 1966, he earned the MS in chemical engineering at Louisiana State University, and a PhD in 1968. He then joined the faculty of chemical engineering of Tennessee Technological University. Dr. Kerr became associate professor in 1971 and professor in 1977. He served as Interim Chair of the chemical engineering department from 2001 until his retirement in 2002. He has presented papers at technical meetings and published papers in technical journals dealing with physical properties, thermodynamics, optimization, air pollution control, process design, mathematical modeling, commercialization of Eastern oil shale and wood pyrolysis. He worked for 9 yr for the Industrial Environmental Research Laboratory of US Environmental Protection Agency in Research Triangle Park, North Carolina. This work dealt with the development of processes for the control of gaseous pollutants from coal-fired power plants. He served for 5 yr for EPA on their Alkali Wet Scrubbing Test Facility Steering Committee. Dr. Kerr also worked for 15 yr for various contractors responsible for providing engineering services to Department of Energy facilities located in Oak Ridge, Tennessee. He was appointed by Governor McWhirter to serve two terms on the Tennessee Air Pollution Control Board and he has served as President of the Emeritus Faculty Club at Tennessee Tech.