Don Danly
received his PhD in 1954 under the supervision of Professor Huckaba. He
enjoyed a highly successful career in industry and was a strong supporter of
the department, including serving on the department’s advisory board.
Dr. Danly developed electrochemical technology that revolutionized chemical
processing in the late 1950's and early 1960's. His and his research and
development team's technology was first commercialized by Monsanto Company in
Decatur, AL in the mid 1960's. The technology to dimerize acyrlonitrile to
adiponitrile in an electrochemical cell was recognized by the Chemical
Engineering profession in 1968 with the Kirkpatrick Award of Excellence.
This step change in chemical reaction engineering resulted in lower energy and
material requirements to produce nylon 6,6 and their intermediate chemicals.
It also greatly reduced byproduct production improving the environmental
posture of the manufacturing processes for nylon 6,6. As the leader in this
technology, numerous other electrochemical processes were later utilized by
the chemical processing industry thereby conserving raw materials, reducing
energy consumption, and reducing environmental pollution worldwide.
Don was the technologist's technologist. But more importantly, he was a caring
soft-spoken leader who led by example. He developed people to their fullest
potential, challenged their thinking, and offered a creative environment for
them to excel.
His battle with cancer was an inspiration to those who worked with him over
the years. He never gave up. Even in periods of severe pain and mental
frustration, he offered a warm smile with a subtle sense of humor. His death
in August 2002 brought together old friends from around the world and warm
greetings from the many who could not attend.
Dr. Don Danly epitomized the principles of a University of Florida graduate.
He was highly accepted among his peers, articulate, caring, intelligent,
inquisitive, and, most importantly, appreciative of those who pushed the
technical envelope. He was a devout Gator fan, counseling his Seminole and
Hurricane neighbors when they would become over exuberant about their teams.
Don was an AIChE Fellow as well as Fellow of the Electrochemical Society.
Notable among his many honors was his receipt of the Vittorio De Nora Award
(1984) from the Electrochemistry Society.
-Jerry Dickerson (BSChE 1967)
