Roy Edwin Olson
9/13/1931 - 8/29/2024

Roy Edwin Olson died peacefully at home on Thursday, August 29, 2024 with his wife,Vicki, by his side.

Roy was born September 13, 1931 in Richmond, Indiana. He grew up in Minneapolis and attended the University of Minnesota where he received B.S. and M.S. degrees in Civil Engineering. Roy then attended the University of Illinois Champaign-Urbana, where he earned his Ph.D. in Civil Engineering in 1960. Upon graduation, Roy was hired by the University of Illinois as a faculty member in their Civil Engineering Department. In 1970, he was recruited and hired by the Department of Civil Engineering at the University of Texas in Austin. Roy was an accomplished researcher and a favorite professor with the many students he taught over his 42-year career. He was instrumental in bringing national recognition to the Department of Civil Engineering at UT, which is now ranked fourth overall in the United States.

Throughout his career Roy received many awards and held leadership roles in professional societies while actively teaching and mentoring students. Some of Roy’s professional accomplishments include: the Huber Research Prize, the Croes Medal, the Norman Medal, the ASTM Hogentogler Award (twice), and his invitation to deliver the Terzaghi Lecture. In 2003, he was inducted into the National Academy of Engineering. However, to Roy, his greatest accomplishment was seeing the successes of his former students. Many have become well-respected and influential leaders in geotechnical engineering.

In addition to his teaching responsibilities, Roy was an acknowledged expert witness in many court cases. He also enjoyed working as a consultant on various engineering projects.

In his personal life, Roy pursued mountain climbing, especially Longs Peak at Estes Park, Colorado (occasionally with willing student proteges). He also enjoyed running the Capital 10K’s, jogging, ballroom dancing with Vicki, and hosting student parties in their home.

Roy spent his last years with his wife, Vicki, by his side. He filled his time writing biographies, memoirs, traveling, and striving to live his best and most fulfilling life.

Preceding him in death were his parents, Roy Edwin Olson, Sr. and Hester Elizabeth Nelson Olson of Minneapolis, MN; his sister, Sue Ellen Olson Nelson Peggs, of Los Angeles, California; and his first wife, Joan Barrett Bertine Olson, of Champaign, IL (1964).

Roy is survived by his wife of 39 years, Vicki Ray Olson; his children, Sandra Lee Christian, Cheryl Ann Jann, and Chresten E. Olson; his stepdaughters, Grace Ray Peterson and Linda Ray Myers; his grandchildren, Laura Morrison, Ruben C. Guevara, John M. Christian, Dominic A. Jann; and seven great-grandchildren.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial gifts to the Roy E. Olson Endowment Fund at the University of Texas, or to their charity of choice.

A celebration of Roy’s life will be planned for a later date.

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