Born: Winnipeg, Canada, 23 June 1912
Citizenship: USA
EDUCATION
- C.E., Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, 1934
- D.C.E., Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, 1937
- Harvard University, Graduate School of Engineering, April 1938 to January 1939
REGISTRATION
- Structural Engineer, Illinois
- Member, Illinois Structural Engineering Examining Board, 1959-1969
- Professional Engineer, Illinois
- Civil Engineer, California
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
- 06/37 to 04/38 Structural Detailer, American Bridge Company, Ambridge, Pennsylvania
- 04/38 to 01/39 Laboratory Assistant, Arthur Casagrande, Cambridge, Massachusetts
- 01/39 to 05/42 Representative of Karl Terzaghi on the Chicago Subway Project
- 05/42 to 12/42 Chief Engineer - Testing, Scioto Ordnance Plant, Holabird, Root & Burgee, Marion, Ohio
- 12/42 to 05/74 Successively Research Assistant Professor, Associate Professor, and Professor of Foundation Engineering, University of Illinois, Urbana
- 05/74 to 2008 Professor of Foundation Engineering, Emeritus, University of Illinois
- 1942 to 2004 Consultant
PROFESSIONAL SOCIETIES
- Honorary Member:
- American Society of Civil Engineers: Board of Direction, 1962-65; member of Executive Committee Soil Mechanics and Foundation Division 1954-59; chairman 1957; president Central Illinois Section 1956
- Mexican National Society of Soil Mechanics and Foundation Engineering
- Southeast Asian Geotechnical Society
- Fellow:
- Geological Society of America
- Member:
- International Society of Soil Mechanics and Foundation Engineering; president 1969-73
- American Railway Engineering Association
- U.S. Committee on Large Dams
- U.S. National Committee on Tunneling Technology: chairman 1976
- Canadian Geotechnical Society
HONORS
- Member:
- National Academy of Engineering 1965
- American Academy of Arts and Sciences
- Sigma Xi, Tau Beta Pi, Phi Kappa Phi, Chi Epsilon (National Honor Member)
- Recipient:
- 1944 Norman Medal, ASCE
- 1965 Wellington Prize, ASCE
- 1969 Karl Terzaghi Award, ASCE
- 1972 The National Society of Professional Engineers Award
- 1973 The Moles Non-Member Award
- 1973 Outstanding Civilian Service Medal of the U.S. Army
- 1975 National Medal of Science awarded by President Gerald R. Ford
- 1975 Selected as one of the top U.S. Construction Men of the Past 50 Years, ASCE
- 1976 Washington Award of the Western Society of Engineers
- 1978 University of Illinois Alumni Award
- 1983 Golden Beaver Award
- 1984 Distinguished Service Award of the Deep Foundations Institute
- 1986 President's Award, ASCE
- 1988 Rickey Medal of ASCE
- 1988 The John Fritz Medal of ASCE, ASME, AIMME, AIChE, and IEEE
- 1988 The Award of Merit, Consulting Engineers Council
- 1999 Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute Alumni Hall of Fame
- 2000 Geo-Institute of ASCE, Gala Celebration of the Life and Times of Professor Ralph B. Peck, a True "Hero" of the Geo-industry
- 2001 ASCE OPAL (Outstanding Projects and Leaders) Award, Outstanding Lifetime Achievement in Education
- 2002 Canadian Geotechnical Society's Special Award in Recognition of Ralph B. Peck's "rich influence on the geotechnical profession in Canada"
- 2004 John F. Parmer Award, Structural Engineers Association of Illinois
- Honorary Degrees:
- 1974 Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, D.Eng.
- 1987 Laval University, D.Sc.
- Lecturer:
- 1963 First Karl Terzaghi Lecture, ASCE
- 1969 Ninth Rankine Lecture, British Geotechnical Society
- 1974 Second Nabor Carrillo Lecture, Mexican National Society of Soil Mechanics
- 1975 First Martin S. Kapp Memorial Lecture, Metropolitan Section ASCE
- 1978 First G. Brooks Earnest Lecture Award, Cleveland Section ASCE
- 1987 Third Arthur Casagrande Lecture, Boston Society C.E.
- 1980 Laurits Bjerrum Memorial Lecture, Oslo, Norway