Agricultural Engineering Alumnus Dale F. Heermann Receives Prestigious ASAE Award
The American Society of Agricultural Engineers has named Dale F. Heermann winner of one of its most prestigious awards, the Hancor Soil and Water Engineering Award. According to the ASAE news release, the award is given in recognition of noteworthy contributions to the advancement of soil and water engineering. Dr. Heermann was presented his award at a special luncheon during the ASAE 2005 Annual International Meeting in Tampa, Florida, on July 20.
Dr. Heermann was selected for the award in recognition of his distinguished contributions in the area of irrigation water management. He is recognized internationally as an authority on irrigation involving center pivot systems and irrigation scheduling technology. A mathematical equation that he developed for calculating the uniformity of center pivot irrigation systems is used by industry and consulting engineers worldwide. ASAE had honored Dr. Heermann earlier in his career by naming him an ASAE Fellow.
Dale grew up in Scribner, Nebraska, and received his B.S. in agricultural
engineering from the University of Nebraska. After graduation, he entered the
U.S. Air Force. Dale moved to Fort Collins in 1962 to begin graduate school,
receiving his M.S. in 1964 and Ph.D. in 1968, both in agricultural engineering,
and was an instructor at Colorado State University while pursuing his Ph.D.
degree. In August 1968, he joined the Agricultural Research Service, and became
Research Leader of the Water Management Research Unit in 1981. Dr. Heermann
retired on May 3, 2005 after more than 41 years of federal service, 38 of those
with the USDA-ARS in Fort Collins.