May 19, 1999
Swift, of Lawrence, received the school's Distinguished Engineering Service Award. He was honored at the 19th annual DESA banquet at the Adams Alumni Center, where he received a medallion designed by Jon Havener, KU professor of design.
Each year, the KU Engineering Advisory Board receives nominations for the award from school alumni and friends. The Advisory Board is a group of engineers that meets regularly to suggest ways to improve the school. The award recipients, KU alumni or engineers who have maintained close ties with KU, are chosen for their personal achievement, leadership and service to the profession and the university.
Swift received degrees in chemical engineering from KU in 1953, 1957 and 1959. He served in the U.S. Marine Corps in Japan and Korea and was discharged with the rank of first lieutenant. Swift joined KU in 1961 as an assistant professor of chemical and petroleum engineering and associate member of the Engineering Science Division of KU's Center for Research Inc.
At KU Swift was the Deane E. Ackers Professor of Chemical and Petroleum Engineering. During his teaching career, Swift was associate dean and acting dean of the KU Graduate School and was chairman of the chemical and petroleum engineering department. He is a fellow of the American Institute of Chemical Engineers and a distinguished member of the Society of Petroleum Engineers.
Swift maintained industry ties through consulting, and he instilled in students his knowledge of industry. He taught primary courses in chemical engineering process design, and he was known for believing that coursework should relate directly to industry's current needs. Swift consulted for C.W. Nofsinger Co., Dow-Corning Corp., Goodyear Tire and Rubber Co. and others. He received a number of teaching awards including the Standard Oil Co. (Indiana) Foundation Award in 1972.
As a researcher, Swift focused on significant engineering problems that faced industry and society. His research results markedly advanced practice in the fields of gas reservoir analysis, rheology, phase equilibria and design. Swift's research data contributed to the development of chemical processes used to produce natural gas, radial tires and polyisoprene, which is used often in medical equipment.
In the natural gas industry, Swift developed proper testing and analysis procedures for natural gas reservoirs. The procedures have become the worldwide standard in the industry. During the energy crisis of the 1970s, Swift analyzed the effectiveness of fracturing well bores of tight gas reservoirs. The procedures also are the worldwide industry standard.