Wolman, Abel (1892 – 1989) American Engineer and Educator

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Abel Wolman (1892 – 1989)
American engineer and educator

Born June 10, 1892 in Baltimore, the fourth of six children of Polish-Jewish immigrants, Wolman became one of the world's most highly respected leaders in the field of sanitary engineering, which evolved into what is now known as environmental engineering . His contributions in the areas of water supply, water and wastewater treatment, public health, nuclear reactor safety, and engineering education helped to significantly improve the health and prosperity of people not only in the United States but also around the world.

Wolman attended Johns Hopkins University, earning a bachelor's degree in 1913 and another bachelor's in engineering in 1915. He was one of four students in the first graduating class in the School of Engineering. In 1937, having already made major contributions in the field of sanitary engineering, he was awarded an honorary doctorate by the school. That same year he helped establish the Department of Sanitary Engineering in the School of Engineering and the School of Public Health, and served as its Chairman until his retirement in 1962. As a professor emeritus from 1962 to 1989, he remained active as an educator in many different arenas.

From 1914 to 1939, Wolman worked for the Maryland State Department of Health, serving as Chief Engineer from 1922 to 1939. It was during his early years there that he made what is regarded as his single most important contribution. Working in cooperation with a chemist, Linn Enslow, he standardized the methods used to chlorinate a municipal drinking-water supply .

Although chlorine was already being applied to drinking water in some locations, the scientific basis for the practice was not well understood and many utilities were reluctant to add a poisonous substance to the water. Wolman's technical contributions and his persuasive arguments regarding the potential benefits of chlorination encouraged many municipalities to begin chlorinating their water supplies. Subsequently, the death rates associated with water-borne communicable diseases plummeted and the average life span of Americans increased dramatically. He assisted many other countries in making similar progress.

During the course of his long and illustrious career, spanning eight decades, Wolman held over 230 official positions in the fields of engineering, public health, public works, and education. He served as a consultant to numerous utilities, state and local governments and agencies, and federal agencies, including the U.S. Public Health Service , the National Resources Planning Board, the Tennessee Valley Authority , the Atomic Energy Commission , the U.S. Geological Survey , the National Research Council , the National Science Foundation, the Department of Defense, the Army, the Navy, and the Air Force.

On the international scene, Wolman served as an advisor to more than 50 foreign governments. For many years he served as an advisor to the World Health Organization (WHO), and he was instrumental in convincing the agency to broaden its focus to include water supply, sanitation , and sewage disposal. He also served as an advisor to the Pan American Health Organization.

Wolman was an active member of a broad array of professional societies, including the National Academy of Sciences , the National Academy of Engineering, the American Public Health Association, the American Public Works Association, the American Water Works Association, the Water Pollution Control Federation, and the American Society of Civil Engineers. His leadership in these organizations is exemplified by his service as President of the American Public Health Association in 1939 and the American Water Works Association in 1942.

Known as an avid reader and a prolific writer, Wolman authored four books and more than 300 professional articles. For 16 years (from 1921 to 1937) he served as editor-in-chief of the Journal of the American Water Works Association. He also served as Associate Editor of the American Journal of Public Health (1923–1927) and editor-in-chief of Municipal Sanitation (1929–1935).

Wolman was the recipient of more than 60 professional honors and awards, including the Albert Lasker Special Award (American Public Health Association, 1960), the National Medal of Science (presented by President Carter, 1975), the Tyler Prize for Environmental Achievement (1976), the Environmental Regeneration Award (Rene
Dubos Center for Human Environments, 1985), and the Health for All by 2000 Award (WHO, 1988). He was an Honorary Member of 17 different national and international organizations, some of which named prestigious awards in his honor.

He was greatly admired for his outstanding integrity and widely known for the help and encouragement he gave to others, for his keen mind and sharp wit (even at the age of 96), for his willingness to change his mind when confronted with new information, and for his devotion to his family. His wife of 65 years, Anne Gordon, passed away in 1984. Wolman's son, Gordon, is Chairman of the Department of Geography and Environmental Science at Johns Hopkins University.

[Stephen J. Randtke ]