Alvin P. Black Hall

Honoree

Alvin P. Black

A University of Florida professor of chemical engineering, Alvin Percy ("A.P.") Black was a pioneer in the field of water chemistry. Born in Blossom, Texas, in 1895, Black earned his Bachelor of Science degree at Southwestern University, pursued graduate studies at Harvard and received his Ph.D. in Water Chemistry from the University of Iowa.

During his tenure as a professor and department head at the University of Florida, Dr. Black became a leader in Florida's water industry. He was a key participant in the development of operator training in the State of Florida. Dr. Black earned national and international recognition in the field of water chemistry and has served as a consultant to numerous municipalities throughout the country since 1935.

He was exceptionally successful in the private sector, serving as a consultant to many international, national and state organizations concerned with water quality, water treatment and public health. He founded Black Laboratories, which later became Black, Crow, and Eidsness, Consulting Engineers. The company eventually became a part of CH2M Hill, a major international consulting firm.

Countless awards in the water field were bestowed on Dr. Black, including the Fuller Award, the Goodell Prize, the Water Purification Division Award, and the Diven Medal. His research in the area of water quality and treatment resulted in many major contributions to the field. This was recognized by the AWWA when they designated him as the first recipient of their A.P. Black Research Award in 1968.

He died on February 23, 1980 at the age of 84.

Facility History

The Board of Regents honored University of Florida Research Professor Emeritus Alvin P. Black by attaching his name to the 38,000-square-foot building constructed in 1967 that was designed to house the Department of Environmental Engineering Sciences.