William Tebeau facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
William Tebeau
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| Born |
William Henry Tebeau
November 23, 1925 |
| Died | July 5, 2013 (age 87) |
| Nationality | American |
| Citizenship | American |
| Engineering career | |
| Discipline |
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| Institutions | Oregon State University |
| Employer(s) | Oregon Department of Transportation |
| Projects | Planning and research of Oregon's highway construction and improvement programs |
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William Henry Tebeau (born November 23, 1925 – died July 5, 2013) was a very important engineer. In 1948, he made history by becoming the first African-American man to graduate from Oregon State College. He worked as an engineer for the Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT) for 36 years. To honor him, a building at Oregon State University and a highway in Oregon are named after him.
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William Tebeau's Early Life
William Tebeau was born in Baker, Oregon. His parents were Henry William Tebeau and Frances Tebeau.
When he was 12, William joined the Boy Scouts of America. He worked hard and earned the Order of the Arrow. He also became an Eagle Scout, which is the highest rank a Boy Scout can achieve. In 1943, he finished high school at Baker High School.
Getting an Education
William Tebeau was accepted into Oregon State College. However, because of his race, he was not given a place to live in the school's dorms. This was before fair housing laws were in place in Oregon.
William did not give up. He found a job at a fraternity house. He tended the furnace, which kept the building warm. In return, he was allowed to live in a room in the basement. In 1948, he graduated with a degree in chemical engineering.
After college, William found it hard to get a job as a chemical engineer. So, he decided to study on his own. He learned what he needed to know to become a civil engineer.
Working as an Engineer
William Tebeau earned his license as a civil engineer. He then joined the Oregon State Highway Department. He worked there for 36 years, helping to plan and improve Oregon's roads.
He also taught classes at Chemeketa Community College. In 1970, he was named "Teacher of the Year" at the college.
Special Honors and Recognition
William Tebeau received many honors for his achievements.
In May 2014, Oregon State University announced that a brand new student residence hall would be named after him. This building is on Washington Way, near the Kerr Administration Building. It was a special way to remember him as the first African-American man to earn a degree from the university.
In January 2016, the Oregon government passed a law to honor William Tebeau. They named State Highway 126 the "William Tebeau Memorial Highway." This highway runs between the cities of Florence and Eugene.
