Dr. Thomas H. Chilton is broadly recognized as a founder of modern chemical engineering practice. He worked at the DuPont company from 1925-1959, and for about 30 of those years, he led the company's Engineering Research group, where he conducted and directed pioneering work in chemical engineering research. Many of the early contributions to Perry's Chemical Engineers' Handbook resulted from this work. During his tenure in this capacity, Chilton attracted other recognized leaders in the emerging discipline of chemical engineering to the Wilmington area, such as Robert L. Pigford and Allan P. Colburn.

After leaving DuPont, Chilton served as a visiting professor and lecturer at universities worldwide until his death in 1972. He was also active in the AIChE, and served as president in 1951. In recognition for his many contributions to DuPont, Chilton was posthumously presented the company's most prestigious award, the Lavoisier Medal for Excellence, and in 1994, the building at the DuPont Experimental Station where he conducted much of his pioneering work was dedicated as the Thomas H. Chilton Laboratory.

Full biography in Memorial Tributes: National Academy of Engineering, Vol. 1, pp 19-25 (1979)

In 1987 the Wilmington Area Section established an annual award to recognize technical excellence in chemical engineering practice by Wilmington area individuals. The award was named in honor of the late Dr. Thomas H. Chilton who spent much of his outstanding technical career in the Wilmington area. Recipients to date:
1987 Noel C. Scrivner (DuPont)
1988 T.W. Fraser Russell (University of Delaware)
1989 Henn Kilkson (DuPont)
1990 Costel D. Densen (University of Delaware)
1991 Leonard O. Frescoln (Hercules)
1992 Wendel R. Cassel (DuPont)
1993 David Smith (DuPont)
1994 Sheldon E. Isakoff (DuPont)
1995 Arthur B. Metzner (University of Delaware)
1996 Reg Davies (DuPont)
1997 Arthur W. Etchells (DuPont)
1998 Stanley I. Sandler (University of Delaware)
1999 Thomas Keane (DuPont)
2000 William H. Manogue (DuPont)
no awards have ben made since 2000

In keeping with the tradition of this legacy, the recipient of the Wilmington Area Section Chilton Award must be a chemical engineer from the Section's geographical area and must have produced or contributed to a significant accomplishment in chemical engineering that resulted in industrial practice. The contribution can be an invention, the leadership of a program, the solution to a problem, or other contributions which materially advance industrial practice.

For further information or to propose a candidate for this award contact the Section Chair.