One month into his career as a faculty member at the University of Missouri-Rolla, Dr. Harry “Hank" Sauer could almost feel the sense of urgency in the air. It was October of 1957, and the Soviet Union had just launched the world’s first satellite, a basketball-sized sphere known as Sputnik I.         

The space race was on. “It was a tremendous shock to find out how far behind we thought we were," recalls Sauer, who is currently celebrating his 50th year at UMR. “It added impetus to the developmental type of work and research we were already doing. When Sputnik came along, we realized we’d better do even more."         

So when the world recently commemorated the 50th anniversary of a satellite that ushered in a new era of research and exploration, Sauer was marking a special anniversary of his own. A professor of mechanical and aerospace engineering, Sauer officially put 50 years at UMR behind him on Sept. 1, 2007.       

“The years at UMR have always proven to be interesting, challenging and enjoyable," Sauer says. “Hopefully, they will continue to be so."         

In addition to his teaching duties at UMR, Sauer has served as dean of graduate study and as associate chair of mechanical engineering. His research has been focused on heat transfer, thermodynamics, air conditioning and thermophysical properties. He has published more than 150 technical papers and five engineering textbooks. Thousands of young engineering students have learned the fundamentals and design of air conditioning systems from one of his books, now in its ninth edition.         

Sauer has won numerous Faculty Excellence Awards at UMR. He currently serves on the board of the Missouri Society of Professional Engineers and on the board of the International Thermal Conductivity Conferences. In 2003, he was named the Most Distinguished Scientist by the Missouri Academy of Sciences. In 1999, UMR presented him with the Alumni Merit Award. Missouri Western State College honored him with its Distinguished Alumni Award in 1989.         

Sauer received his associate’s degree from Missouri Western, his bachelor’s and master’s degrees from UMR (then the Missouri School of Mines and Metallurgy) and his Ph.D. from Kansas State University.        

With his wife Pat, Sauer has nine children. All of the children graduated from either UMR or the University of Missouri-Columbia. The Sauers have 26 grandchildren living in states from Florida to Washington.