Roy A. Axford (1928-2021) | University of Illinois Archives
Roy A. Axford (1928-2021) was an associate professor of nuclear engineering (1966-68), professor of nuclear engineering (1968-2017) and professor emeritus at the University of Illinois. He was recognized by his students for his teaching ability and received many teaching awards from the university.
Roy A. Axford was born August 26, 1928, in Detroit Michigan, to Charlotte Donaldson Paulson and Roy Paulson. Axford received a BA in Physics from Williams College and an SB in general science from MIT in 1955. He was the first person to receive an Sc.D. in nuclear engineering from MIT in 1958. Axford worked as a nuclear engineer at Technical Research Group (New York, 1958) and as a supervisor for Theoretical Physics Group, Atomics International (Canoga Park, California, 1958-1960). Axford started his academic career as an associate professor of nuclear engineering (1960-1962) and professor of nuclear engineering (1962-1963) at Texas A&M University, and associate professor of nuclear engineering at Northwestern University (1963-1966) before joining the University of Illinois in 1966.
Axford’s many awards include: Everitt Award for Teaching Excellence, College of Engineering (1985), Graduate College Outstanding Mentor Award, University of Illinois (2004), Student Award for Excellence in Undergraduate Teaching, College of Engineering (2004), Rose Award for Teaching Excellence, College of Engineering (2008), Campus Award for Excellence in Undergraduate Teaching (2010), College of Engineering Teaching Excellence Award (2010), Illinois Student Senate Teaching Excellence Award (2011), University of Illinois Graduate and Professional Teaching Award (2011), and ANS at Illinois Student Chapter Excellence in Undergraduate Teaching Award (1990, 1995, 1997, 1999, 2002, 2008, 2016).
Axford died at age 92 on March 10, 2021, in Urbana, Illinois.
https://www.news-gazette.com/obituaries/archive/roy-arthur-axford/article_793ec162-8f57-11eb-a051-ef326db32d6f.html
https://npre.illinois.edu/news/stories/prof-roy-axford-retires-after-51-years-service-illinois-and-country