Charles Salmon

Professor Emeritus, Charles G. "Chuck" Salmon, Las Vegas, NV. Age 83


Charles Gerald "Chuck" Salmon, Professor Emeritus, died unexpectedly on Monday, April 28, 2014 in Las Vegas, Nevada. He was born in Detroit, Michigan on October 28, 1930 to Harold and Gwendolyn Salmon.

Chuck was a well-respected and distinguished Emeritus Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. He was a leader, a teacher, an advisor and mentor. He was renowned as author/co-author of a number of widely used textbooks on the subjects of concrete design, steel structures and structural analysis.

Over the years, he was very active in numerous professional engineering societies including; American Concrete Institute (ACI), American Welding Society (AWS), American Institute of Steel Construction (AISC), American Society of Civil Engineering (ASCE), American Society of Engineering Education (ASEE), National Society of Professional Engineers (NSPE), Precast/Prestressed Concrete Institute (PCI)and the and Wisconsin Society of Professional Engineers (WSPE).

Chuck received many professional awards and honors through the years. Highlights include:

- The AISC T.R. Higgins Lectureship Award, 1981.
- The ACI Joe Kelly Award for outstanding contributions to education in concrete, 1983.
- The ACI Delmar L. Bloem Distinguished Service Award for outstanding performance while serving on ACI technical committees, 1984.
- Chi Epsilon Chapter Honor Member, 1989.
- ASCE Honorary Member, 1993 for his contribution to the art and science of structural engineering.
- ACI Honorary Member, 2000 for his exceptional achievements in teaching concrete structures to students.
- AISC Lifetime Achievement Award, 2009.
- WSPE Lifetime Achievement Award, 2013.
Chuck had a tremendous rapport with his students. He complemented his 7:45 AM lectures with freshly brewed coffee for his students as well as the occasional beverage at Jingles after classes. Chuck served as Chi Epsilon advisor for many years at the UW-Madison, as well as national President from 1994-1996 and as district counselor for 12 years for Chi Epsilon's North-Central region. He created a student activities endowment for student activities, the Bette and Chuck Salmon Student Fund.
Chuck was an adventurous sort. He loved to travel, camp, canoe and take on whatever endeavor came his way. He had a keen interest in history and was fascinated by bridges, ancient ruins, manmade and natural structures. Early family summer vacations consisted of packing up and heading out in a converted Volkswagen van, camping for up to four weeks to see any (or all) of the above. Being the photographer that he was, he made sure to line the family up in front of every monument or landmark sign for photo-ops. He fervently researched family genealogy, which meant more photo-ops, only this time in front of a deceased relative's gravestone. In later years, he traveled extensively. Often one didn't know where he was until receiving word that he was in, say Bosnia or Madagascar!
Chuck touched the lives of many; his family, acquaintances from near and far, Engineering Faculty and staff as well as scores of students that he mentored and assisted. He is survived by his children, Margaret (Hans) Eusch, David (Ellen Kodis) Salmon and Martha (Robert) Witt; and a sister, Laura Berg. He is further survived by his grandchildren; Peter Eusch, Sara Eusch, Zachary Salmon, Katherine Salmon, Aaron Witt, Taylor Witt and Kailey Witt. He was preceded in death by his parents, Harold and Gwendolyn Salmon and his wife Elizabeth "Bette" Salmon.

In lieu of flowers, gift memorials in Chuck's honor can be directed to your choice of either of the following Foundation Funds.

The Bette and Chuck Salmon Student Activities Fund, established in 1990 (UW Foundation Fund #12230569)
https://secure.supportuw.org/MultiPage/processStep1.do?seq=19274&fbcd=7

The Charles G. Salmon Professorship, established in May 1998 (UW Foundation Fund #12232238)
https://secure.supportuw.org/MultiPage/processStep1.do?seq=5861&fbcd=7

A celebration of Chuck's life will be held at CRESS FUNERAL HOME, 3610 Speedway Road, Madison, WI on Saturday, May 17, 2014. Visitation will commence at 12:00 PM followed by a service at 1:00 PM. Please share your memories at www.CressFuneralService.com .