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DEAN F. PETERSON
1 913-1 989
BY ROBERT L. SMITH
DEAN F. PETERSON, professor emeritus of civil and agricultural/
irrigation engineering at Utah State University, died on April 21,
l9S9, at the age of seventy-five. He was born on June 3, 1913, in
Delta, Utah. His undergraduate education was at Utah State
University, where he received a B.S. in civil engineering. His
graduate education was at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute,
where he obtained an MCE and DCE. Dean was elected to
membership in the National Academy of Engineering in 1974.
Dr. Peterson had a distinguished and multifaceted career in
academe, government service, and consulting. He was involved
with the design and operation of water resources projects and
engineering education worldwide.
His first decade after college saw him in a number of engineer-
ing construction assignments scattered across the nation, culmi-
nating in several years of military service. His military commit-
ment continued in the active reserve followingWorld War II, and
he retired as a captain in the U.S. Naval Reserve.
Dean initiated a serious commitment to the academic portion
of his career in 1946 when he accepted appointment as an
assistant professor at Utah State University. He left Utah State in
1949 to begin an eight-year assignment at Colorado State Univer-
sity as professor and head of the Department of Civil Engineer-
ing. Dean returned to Utah State in 1957, where he served as
221
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222
MEMORIAL TRIBUTES
dean ol~engineering until 1973. From 1973 until his retirement
to emeritus status in 1976, he was vice-president for research.
Dr. Peterson's role in government service was also extensive.
In 1965-1966 he was on leave from the university to serve as
technical assistant, Of lice of Science and Technology, Executive
Of lice of the President; and concurrently, chairman, Committee
on Water Resources Research of the Federal Council for Science
and Technology. As special assistant, he was responsible for
handling specific problems of national water resources policy as
requested by the White House. The committee he chaired was
charged with coordinating water resources research in the
federal establishment. Again in 1968-1969 Dr. Peterson re-
turned to Washington to head the Office of Water for Peace in
the U.S. Department of State.
Following his retirement from the university, Dr. Peterson
returned to government service where he concentrated on
addressing problems of developing countries. From 1976 to
~ 978 he was chief, Soil and Water Division, Technical Assistance
Bureau, U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID),
Department of State; in 1978-1979 he was director, Office of
Agriculture, Development Support Bureau, USAID; en cl from
1979 to 1981 he served in India as agricultural research and
irrigation adviser, USAID. He continued in similar advisory
capacities almost to the time of his death.
Dean was an acknowledged leader in the technical fielcl of
irrigation. He was equally at home in his knowledge of all aspects
of worldwide food policy, ranging from economics to nutrition.
Those who knew him well were continually struck by his compas-
sion for all mankind, ant! his innate desire to improve the lot of
the developing nations.
Dean Peterson was a quiet-spoken indiviclual, but his work did
not go unnoticed by his peers. They chose to honor him on
numerous occasions. The American Society of Civil Engineers
extencled three major awards. These were the Royce Tipton
Award for Irrigation in 1968, the Julian Hinds Award for Water
Resources Managementin 1980, and designation as an honorary
member in 1976. The American Water Resources Association
presented him with its Icko Iben Award in 1979. Also, in 1979 he
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DEAN F. PETERSON
223
received the U.S. Department of State's Superior Honor Award.
He received the Distinguished Service Award of the Utah Acad-
emy of Sciences, Arts and Letters in 1976 and was designated an
honorary citizen of Texas in 1971. He was also the recipient of
two honorary doctor of science degrees, one from Utah State
University, the other from Mahatma Phule Agricultural Univer-
sity in India.
Dean cared about his profession and he cared about people.
He is missed.
Representative terms from entire chapter:
utah state
