David Crosthwait

1891 ~ 1976

Electrical and Mechanical Engineer

For his outstanding contributions to engineering technology, David Crosthwait was awarded an honorary doctoral degree in 1975 from Purdue University, the same school that had awarded him a B.S. in mechanical engineering 62 years earlier.  In the years between, he had received 34 U.S. patents and 80 foreign patents relating to the design, installation, testing, and servicing of power plants and heating and ventilating systems.

Crosthwait worked for the Dunham Company of Chicago during much of his career and headed its research laboratory in Marshalltown, Iowa.  Later he served as technical advisor to the company.

An authority on heat transfer, ventilation, and air conditioning, Crosthwait invented several new systems.  He developed the control systems and the variable vacuum system of heating for major buildings including Rockefeller Center in New York City.  His writings included a manual on heating and cooling with water and guides, standards and codes dealing with heating ventilation, refrigeration, and air conditioning.

After retiring from industry in 1969, Crosthwait continued to share his knowledge by teaching a course on steam heating theory and controls at Purdue.