| June 25, 2025
Dear DU community, I write with the news of the passing of former DU Vice Chancellor and Research and Technology Director, Dr. Jerry Plunkett, who was 97 when he passed away in Waynesville, Missouri earlier this spring. Dr. Plunkett was a materials engineer, inventor, businessman, and historian who grew up in Dixon, Missouri. After serving in the Army Air Corps, he attended the Missouri School of Mines for his degrees in ceramic engineering and eventual doctorate degree in metallurgy from Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 1961. He worked for Coors Brewing Company, then in the Chemical & Materials Division of DU’s Denver Research Institute (DRI). At one time, DRI was one of the largest contract research institutes in the country. His career also included serving as the President/CEO at Advanced Military Equipment and at Missouri Structural Composites, running a company with a wind farm, and serving within Montana state-level and federal advisory roles. Here, one key contribution included his involvement in the development of federal grant mechanisms for Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR). In 1984, Dr. Plunkett was recruited back to serve as the Vice Chancellor for Research and Development until 1990. He was known for having many ideas and prompting new ventures. Throughout his career, he launched numerous companies to implement his ideas. As an example of his renown and impact, his company that made bridge decks out of polymers improved efficiencies for repair processes. He won a national plastics award for his leadership in these areas. DU colleagues have continued to stay connected to Dr. Plunkett over the last three decades. He was described as a stimulating conversationalist and someone who wanted to continue to support DU. Please join us in conveying our warmest condolences to Dr. Plunkett’s family, friends, and former DU colleagues. For more information, please see this memorial online message site. Warm regards, |
| Mary Clark Provost Leslie Hasche |