Dr. David H. Crandall
 |
2009
Dr. David H. Crandall
Scientist
Class of 1960
Dr. David H. Crandall is a 1960 graduate of Beatrice High School. After obtaining an advanced degree from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Crandall conducted research in atomic collisions from 1967-1973. Beginning 1983, Crandall worked for the U.S. Department of Energy in Washington D.C. and joined the Office of Defense Programs as Program Director in 1995. He later became Chief Scientist. Crandall has been awarded the Presidential Award of Meritorious Executive Service. “I consider it a really great honor because it’s people that I value so much,” Crandall said. He is the fourth 1960 BHS graduate to be inducted into the hall of fame. Crandall attributed several of his BHS classmates as being the inspiration for his future successes, including Alan Fiala — “the smartest kid in the class” who went on to achieve a Ph.D. in physics in six years after graduating from high school — and Bob Hahn, who went on to play football for the University of Nebraska and later the Pittsburgh Steelers, who taught him how to be a leader.“I have been to a lot of leadership classes, but I learned more leadership from Bobby Hahn, who was our star athlete,” Crandall said. “With Bobby, you were part of the team. Even if you screwed up, you’d be disciplined, but you were still part of the team.” "If you’re going to lead people, you have to keep them included,” he added. “That kind of leadership lesson is what I learned from my friends in high school.”Crandall also credited Charlotte Lemon for teaching him “grace and style under pressure.”When a classmate passed away during Crandall and Lemon’s senior year, Crandall said Lemon “managed to say the right things, to communicate and help immensely.” Crandall said experiences in high school, especially with math teacher Linea Peterson, created a good foundation.“I feel the experiences I had in high school and the individuals, teachers, and the whole community put me on a path that led to success later,” he said. “It takes a community to shape people, I feel like I was shaped a lot by my time in Beatrice.”