The College of Engineering at North Carolina State University honored ECE alumnus Irwin R. Holmes Jr. with the Distinguished Engineering Alumnus award at a ceremony held on Sept. 25 at the Park Alumni Center on NC State’s Centennial Campus.
Holmes earned a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering from NC State in 1960. The first African-American to earn an undergraduate degree from the university, he stands among a distinguished group of trailblazers who had the courage to integrate institutions of higher learning in the South.
Holmes also integrated NC State and Atlantic Coast Conference athletics as a member of the university’s tennis team. After earning his NC State degree, he received a master’s degree in electrical engineering from Drexel University and then worked for several companies including IBM, where he spent 19 years as a senior manager of computer development.
Irwin R. Holmes Jr. (left)
Holmes has been an active supporter of the NC State Engineering Foundation and the university’s Minority Engineering Programs.
The Distinguished Engineering Alumnus Award was established by the faculty of the College of Engineering at NC State in 1966 to honor engineering graduates who have been recognized for outstanding achievements in planning and direction of engineering work, fostering professional development of young engineers, contributing to knowledge in the field of engineering or bringing, in other ways, distinction to the University through engineering achievement.
Nominations for this prestigious award come from members of the Engineering faculty, and a vote by faculty representatives determines the recipients of the award.
Dr. Daniel Stancil introducing his wife to Holmes
Credit: Adapted from the College of Engineering Article “Garwood, Holmes honored with Distinguished Engineering Alumnus award”