CBEE Scholarship Honors 1934 Alumnus

Story Posted: Tue, Mar 3, 2009

Born in Pendleton, OR, Charles Rohrmann received his bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering from Oregon State College in 1934.  After graduation, Charles earned his master’s degree at the Michigan School of Mines and a doctorate, also in chemical engineering, from Ohio State University.   He went on to a distinguished career as a senior research scientist at the Battelle Pacific Northwest National Laboratory in Richland, Washington. 

A recognized expert on chemical processes, Rohrmann held over a dozen patents.  In the 1980s, he worked with other PNNL researchers to develop processes for converting carbohydrates into biodegradable plastics, low-cost animal feed, and polymers.  This work was rated as one of the top 100 technological developments in 1991 by Research and Development magazine.

One of Charles' last wishes was to dedicate part of his estate to the institutions that gave him so much.  Therefore, his son George Rohrmann, a professor in Oregon State University’s Microbiology Department, and his siblings established an endowed scholarship at OSU.  The Charles Rohrmann Memorial Scholarship endowment will benefit undergraduate students in the School of Chemical, Biological and Environmental Engineering.