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