Raimond Struble
by E .E. Burniston
(From 1987-1988 Harrelson News)
Rai Struble retired in December of 1987 after close to 30 years with the Department. Rai specifically asked me that there be no fuss at his retirement and I have honored that request. However, it would be remiss of me if I were not at least make mention of Rai's achievements as a mathematician and member of the faculty.
Rai received his Ph.D. degree from 1951 from the University of Notre Dame. Thereafter, he worked for the Douglas Aircraft Company and was a faculty member at the Illinois Institute of Technology. He joined the NCSU in 1958 as an Associate Professor and was promoted to the rank of Professor in 1960. Rai produced 12 Ph.D. students within the Department and was instrumental in establishing the Applied Mathematics Program. His research areas included ordinary differential equations and generalized functions in operational calculus. His book "Nonlinear Differential Equations", published in 1962, was a standard graduate text for many years. The University recognized his scholarship in 1970 by appointing him the the prestigious position of University Professor. This honor was not widely known, at Rai's request, but I feel that he would be pleased to have it broadcast at this time.
Rai achieved true national and international status as a mathematician and he clearly is an individual the Department will miss. The last resume that I have on record shows that has some 70 research articles in refereed journals and was funded by the U. S. Army for some 14 years.
Even though his list of publications and thesis supervision are impressive, they do not indicate the esteem which the members of the Department have of him. In a person vein, I will miss a colleague who I could always count on for fair and thoughtful assessment of any situation. I always held his advice in the highest regard.
I know that you will all join me in wishing Rai and Marilyn a long and happy retirement.