Dr. and Mrs. Ernest Sturch

Pictured: Dr. Ernest Sturch, Jr.

After graduating from Achille High School in 1947, he went on to earn a B. S. in Chemistry and Mathematics from Southeastern State University of Oklahoma. He continued his education at the University of Oklahoma receiving a Ph.D. in Physical Chemistry with a focus in Physics.
After graduating in 1956, Ernie began work as a Senior Research Chemist on the Hermex Project, in which he designed and oversaw the implementation of the first clean Uranium fuel cores for re-use in nuclear submarines. He returned to Southeastern where he would spend 14 years as Department Chair of Physical Sciences and 20 years as the Chief Academic Officer of the University. For 10 years during his work, he also served as the Faculty Athletic Representative at the university. After retiring in 1990, friends, former colleagues, and former students banded together to establish a scholarship in his name which rewarded students who excelled in chemistry.