The President's Page - Weblog...Beyond the Blog: Opinion & Discussion by Dr. P.A. Menges

In Memoriam - Dr. Charles E. Grey

I do not usually write about personal events however I am making an exception. Dr. Charles E. Grey, a long time friend and fellow scientist passed away recently. His passing marked the end of an era. Eddie, as he preferred to be called was a professional geologist and metallurgist in New Mexico and an expert western geology in general.

I met Eddie Grey more than 20 years ago. He and my father were long time colleagues and friends. Dad and Eddie worked in parallel for more than 20 years before they developed a professional relationship and friendship. Both began their careers on during World War II. My father Ray Menges began his career on the Manhattan Project. Eddie assisted in the feed materials end of the program.

Eddie was a professor at two schools before opening his practice in Albuquerque. By the 1990’s Eddie returned to education briefly and was my geotechnical engineering professor. I was his first aerospace doctoral student. Dad had taught me construction and process engineering and Eddie taught me to build with the earth. Their efforts have given me the knowledge and experience to design underground test cells, spaceports and so much more.

In recent years Eddie was our consulting geologist and metallurgist. He was always available to answer questions and give guidance on so many projects. And after my father’s death he was a sounding board for my research and he encouraged me to go and teach as well. As I say, “So long” to Eddie I keenly feel the loss of one of my father’s last colleagues and a generation of engineers and scientists that have given us so much.
     
Dr. P. A. Menges
21 January 2010