Professor Ron Helms (right) in CU Boulder's听photo-
metric lab in 1967.
Betty Helms, wife of Ron Helms, Peter Ngai, CU Boulder听
graduate听and an icon in the lighting industry, and Ron
Helms听at the Illuminating Engineering Society's 100th
anniversary in 2006.听
Ron Helms, a former professor fondly known as 鈥楧oc鈥� by his CU Boulder architectural lighting students, passed away on May 23. He was 85 years old.
Helms joined CU Boulder鈥檚 architectural engineering faculty in 1965 and taught lighting courses in the architectural engineering program. During his tenure, he advocated for the importance of the illuminating engineering program, establishing a benchmark for advanced lighting education. Illumination engineering focuses on the design, implementation听and analysis of lighting systems.
Helms is believed to be the first to teach a complete听set of lighting coursework for the department.
He also听created the Illumination 1听course,听which teaches the fundamentals of illuminating engineering. In 1973, Illumination 1听became a required course for all CU Boulder architectural engineering students and has been taught ever since.听
鈥淒oc nurtured and inspired so many engineers, designers, educators and manufacturing professionals,鈥� said Cheryl English, one of Helm鈥檚 students from 1977-81 and a retired lighting executive. 鈥淲e remember Doc for his keen sense of humor and dedication to his students, whom he referred to as his 鈥榝amily.鈥� 鈥�
Helms received his undergraduate and master鈥檚 degrees from the University of Illinois and PhD from Ohio State University.听 He left CU Boulder in 1981 to become the head of University of Kansas鈥� architectural engineering program, where he established the Bob Foley Illumination laboratory in 1985. He then went on to North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University to establish a new illuminating engineering program; he retired in 2006.
Helms published many papers, authored three textbooks and presented technical programs.
"He was听a strong advocate for the recognition of architectual engineering and illuminating engineering as听credible disciplines in the industry,"听English said. "He听worked to establish that recognition in professional organizations and engineering听accreditations."
Helms leaves behind his four children, eight grandchildren, extended family and "countless lighting professionals who had the privilege of benefiting from his mentorship or attending his education programs,鈥� English said.
A memorial service was held on June 1 at Westminster Presbyterian Church in Greensboro, North Carolina.