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RICHARD G. SOEHLKE BS ChE 1952, MSM |
After receiving his degree in 1952, Richard worked for Sinclair Research in Harvey, Illinois over the summer following graduation. In September 1952, he went on active duty as a Second Lieutenant in the Army Corps of Engineers including a tour in Korea. In 1954, Richard accepted a position with Shell Oil Company in Woodriver, Illinois as a process engineer and worked for Shell Oil until 1963. In 1963, Richard moved to Kansas to accept a position as a Petrochemical Division Operating Supervisor for Skelly Oil Company. He was promoted to positions of greater responsibility becoming Refinery Manager at the El Dorado, Kansas refinery in 1976. Following the merger of Skelly Oil into Getty Oil, he remained as Refinery Manager. In 1980, he was promoted to Vice-President of Manufacturing-Central Region for Getty Refining and Marketing Company. In 1983, he was transferred to the Delaware City refinery as Refinery Manager and Vice-President of Manufacturing for the Eastern Region. Following the purchase of Getty Oil by Texaco, he remained Refinery Manager for Texaco. He continued as Refinery Manager after the formation of Star Enterprise (a partnership of Texaco and Saudi Aramco) in 1989. He retired as Refinery Manager at Delaware City on July 1, 1993.
Richard was a member of the American Institute of Chemical Engineers, Alpha Chi Sigma, Tau Beta Pi, and the Rollamo Board while at MSM. He was also in Army ROTC while at MSM where he was named a Distinguished Military Graduate. He also received a Silver Key Award. Richard resides in Newark, Delaware. Richard was inducted into the Academy in 2002.