Home»Blog

John Hargis - McKetta Academy of Distinguished Chemical Engineers at UT Austin

September 21, 2026 • Leave a Comment

John Hargis's family

John Hargis was one of the first seven African American undergraduates, known as the Precursors, who were admitted to the University of Texas at Austin in 1954. The whole process dragged on for years and faced some serious pushback—there were major court cases, and the Texas Legislature fought hard against it. But John pushed through and became UT's first Black undergraduate student in 1956, then went on to earn the first Black engineering degree in chemical engineering in 1959. Read a more complete story here:

https://magazine.engr.utexas.edu/2021/john-hargis

John Hargis's family

John Hargis's family

_88A0291

_88A0291

_88A0312

_88A0304

Mike Hargis accepts the medal for John Hargis

I'm really honored and proud to say that John was inducted posthumously into the McKetta Academy of Distinguished Chemical Engineers in 2026. John was one of the five chemical engineers to receive medals at the induction ceremony. The ceremony took place on Friday, September 18, 2026, at the Bob Bullock Texas State History Museum.

Toni Crawford

Toni Crawford

Toni Crawford was the guest host of this ceremony. She is a dedicated alumna. She earned her B.S. in chemical engineering from UT Austin in 1985 and is a Texas Exes Life Member. She was a great host of the five McKetta Academy of Distinguished Chemical Engineers medals presented on Friday.

Toni Crawford

Toni Crawford

Toni Crawford

John Hargis

John Hargis

_88A9821

Toni Crawford

Shravanthi Reddy - One of the honorees

.

John Hargis's family

©2026 Michael Lewis Global Photography. All Rights Reserved

Nokoa The Observer by Michael Lewis

Keywords: ATX Digital Photography, Austin Texas, Bob Bullock Museum, John Hargis, McKetta Academy of Distinguished Chemical Engineers, Michael Lewis Global Photography, Mike Hargis, Nokoa The Observer, Shrananthi Reddy, Toni Crawford, University of Texas at Austin,

Comments

No comments posted.

Loading...

Recent Posts

John Hargis - McKetta Academy of Distinguished Chemical Engineers at UT Austin Austin Fire Chief Joel G. Baker Retirement Ceremony Texas Performing Arts presents the musical “& Juliet” at Bass Concert Hall The Carver Kickback - Juneteenth Edition Remembrance Ceremony Austin African American Book Festival Proclamation Ceremony at Austin City Hall Texas Performing Arts presents the Wiz Musical at Bass Concert Hall in Austin-May 2026 Gladys Knight made a triumphant return to the Paramount Theatre in Austin LBJ Conversations with Evan Smith featuring Congresswoman Jasmine Crockett An Thrilling Evening with Kenny G at the Paramount Theater Texas Performing Arts presents The Sound of Music at Bass Concert Hall in Austin 2026

Keywords

Michael Lewis Global Photography Nokoa The Observer Austin Texas Austin ATX Digital Photography Texas Bass Concert Hall New Orleans Texas Smart Financial Centre

Archive

January February March April May June July August September October November December

« 2017 2018 2019 »

January February March April May June July August September October (2) November (2) (1) December (1)

« 2018 2019 2020 »

(1) January (1) (6) February (6) (2) March (2) (10) April (10) (6) May (6) (8) June (8) (7) July (7) (3) August (3) (2) September (2) (3) October (3) (5) November (5) (1) December (1)

« 2019 2020 2021 »

January (3) February (3) (3) March (3) (4) April (4) (1) May (1) (3) June (3) July (1) August (1) (2) September (2) October (2) November (2) (1) December (1)

« 2020 2021 2022 »

(1) January (1) (1) February (1) March (1) April (1) May (1) June (1) (1) July (1) (3) August (3) (1) September (1) October (1) November (1) (1) December (1)

« 2021 2022 2023 »

(1) January (1) (2) February (2) (3) March (3) (3) April (3) (2) May (2) (1) June (1) (2) July (2) (3) August (3) September (1) October (1) (2) November (2) (3) December (3)

« 2022 2023 2024 »

(3) January (3) (2) February (2) (4) March (4) (1) April (1) (1) May (1) (2) June (2) (1) July (1) August September (3) October (3) (4) November (4) (2) December (2)

« 2023 2024 2025 »

(1) January (1) (3) February (3) (1) March (1) (3) April (3) (2) May (2) (1) June (1) (6) July (6) (1) August (1) (2) September (2) (2) October (2) (3) November (3) December

« 2024 2025 2026 »

(2) January (2) (1) February (1) (1) March (1) (2) April (2) (3) May (3) (1) June (1) (1) July (1) (1) August (1) September (3) October (3) November (3) December (3)

« 2025 2026 2027 »

(2) January (2) (3) February (3) (1) March (1) April (2) May (2) June (2) July (2) (1) August (1) (1) September (1) October November December

© Michael Lewis Global Photography