Hall of Fame

The IIT Hall of Fame celebrates the contributions to the university and society of men and women who have established an outstanding professional record for integrity, innovation, professional or academic achievement, leadership, public responsibility and citizenship. The individuals must have established a personal reputation for outstanding character, bringing great credit and honor upon the university. Those featured in this Hall of Fame include founders, famous faculty and alumni, and others who have provided extraordinary service to the university.
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Hall of Famer shown at right » Carman, George N.
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2006 IIT Hall of Fame Inductee

Dr. John Rettaliata became president of IIT in 1952 at age 40—the youngest IIT president to date and, at the time, the youngest chief executive of a scientific school in the United States. Succeeding Henry Heald, Rettaliata held the position for 21 years. During his tenure, he oversaw the greatest growth period in the history of IIT: the Main Campus completed, Chicago-Kent College of Law added, Stuart School of Business founded, and IIT grow to be the biggest engineering school in the United States. While it was Mies van der Rohe’s design that made Main Campus the historical landmark it is today, Rettaliata's vision made the university a leader in science education.

Founders group
Served as director of Lewis Institute from its founding in 1895 to 1935. He was
an innovative leader in the field of higher education, pioneering the junior college system and school accreditation.

The life of Dr. George N. Carman is inextricably bound into the history of
one of Illinois Institute of Technology’s famed predecessors, Lewis Institute. In fact, Carman was the soul of Lewis Institute. He guided the destiny of that school for
40 years—from the day its doors opened in 1896 until his retirement in 1935.
Though the term was not then used, Lewis Institute actually was the first junior college in the United States. When it opened, it offered a four-year academy (high school) course and a two-year college program, and shortly thereafter, the Institute offered a four-year college program. Since the Institute had always been intended
to serve those financially unable to attend the larger universities, evening classes were offered from the school’s inception.

Carman’s leadership went beyond Lewis Institute. He was one of the originators of the North Central Association of Colleges and Secondary Schools, serving in
various officer roles, including president.

While Carman was a brilliant educator whose ideas were years ahead of his time, he is also remembered for his scrupulous attention to the individual student.
He talked personally with each student before admitting him or her to classes. It has been estimated that 100,000 students attended the Institute at Madison St. and Damen Ave. (current site of the United Center) during the four decades of his directorship — including numerous men and women who contributed to the scientific, engineering, educational, medical, social service, and business fields across the country in the first half of the 20th century.

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1944: Student Marvin Camaras experiments with the magnetic tape recorder
1963: Armour Research Institute changes its name to IIT Research Institute (IITRI)
1968: Keating Hall and Engineering 1 built
1990: Lew Collens inaugurated; IIT celebrates its centennial, Rice Campus is dedicated in Wheaton