Gaddy, Oscar

2003 Distinguished Alumni Award

In recognition for three decades of technical contributions and outstanding service in the ECE department.

A professor emeritus of electrical engineering at Illinois, Gaddy was recognized for three decades of technical contributions and outstanding service in the ECE department. His research interests included gas lasers and subnanosecond response time laser detectors including special photomultiplier vacuum tubes and thin film infrared detectors. Gaddy also served as a consultant to McDonnell-Douglas in St. Louis, MO, and Varian Associates in Palo Alto, CA. He helped initiate an industrial affiliates program in physical electronics on campus, which attracted several million dollars in support. He also served as associate head of the ECE Department for the graduate and research programs. He later served as faculty coordinator for the ECE Alumni Association and as the department’s graduate coordinator until his retirement in 1993.