About Virgil Flanigan

In memory of Virgil Flanigan

BSME 1960, MSM
MSME 1962, MSM
PhD Engineering 1968, UMR

Virgil graduated from the Missouri School of Mines and Metallurgy in 1960. He went to work for the Western Electric Company in Kansas City, MO, followed by a brief enlistment in the Army. He returned to MSM and obtained an MSME in 1962. He joined the faculty as an instructor, teaching until 1964 when he moved to New Orleans to work for Boeing Company on the Saturn project (he is a rocket scientist!). After almost two years at Boeing, he returned to UMR, where he obtained his Ph.D. in Engineering in 1968. Except for a few brief absences, he had been on the faculty since 1962. He enjoyed his students, faculty, and especially the department alums.

His hobbies were hunting, fishing, and storytelling. He had been accused of having an absolute passion for duck hunting, as all the alums returning to help with ME 261 well know. Virgil and Louise have three children: Erin, Tara, and Brennan. The Flanigans live just north of Rolla on a small farm.