Virgil Garnett Trice Jr. was one of few African-American chemical engineers during the 20th century in the United States. [1]
Trice was born on February 3, 1926, in Indianapolis. [1] [2] Trice obtained three degrees within the discipline of engineering: Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering from Purdue University, Master of Science in Chemical Engineering from Purdue University, and a Master of Science in Industrial Engineering from Illinois Institute of Technology. [3] [2]
Subsequent to his education, Trice enlisted into the navy, the highest rank he achieved being ensign. [1] Throughout his career, Virgil worked part time as an associate professor of Chemical Engineering at Howard University. [3] [1] For twenty-two years of his career, from 1949 to 1971, Trice worked at the Argonne National Laboratory as a chemical engineer. [3] [2] Trice's contributions here earned him a profile on Ebony magazine. [1] Then, in 1971 Trice became a member of the Atomic Energy Commission. [3] His work consisted of transforming atomic matter into useful items for the medical and industrial field. [1] He also researched possible nuclear fuel reprocessing, while still considering the economical aspect of it. [1] After he finished at Argonne National Laboratory, Trice went on to be a nuclear waste management engineer, employed by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission until it dissolved, and then for the Energy Research and Development Administration. [1] [2] Finally, his last position was for the U.S. Department of Energy where he worked as a program manager and senior program analyst in radioactive waste management. [1] [2]
Trice lived to be 71, dying on October 31, 1997, in Gaithersburg. [1]