Yang Hsien “Pete” Huang, who taught civil engineering courses from 1967 until his retirement in 1993, passed away at the age of 93 on September 11, 2021. His obituary is below.
Dr. Yang Hsien “Pete” Huang, of Lexington KY, passed away peacefully at home on September 11, 2021, at the age of 93, with his family at his side. He was predeceased by his beloved wife, Jane Ron Huang.
Dr. Huang was a Christian, the patriarch of a family of whom he was very proud, and an accomplished academician and civil engineer. To all who knew and loved him, he embodied the Fruit of the Spirit: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Despite all his accolades, he was humble, lived simply, and was genuinely nice to and thought the best of everyone.
Born in Fujian, China, Dr. Huang graduated from the Anglo Chinese College and the National University of Amoy, receiving his Bachelor of Civil Engineering degree in 1949. He was employed by the Taiwan Highway Bureau from 1949 through 1961. During that time, he spent one year as an Exchange Visitor to the U.S. under the direction of the U.S. Bureau of Public Roads. After he returned to Taiwan, he led a 60-member team into the rugged Central Mountains with neither access roads nor inhabitants to develop and build the first highway to cross Taiwan’s rugged central mountainous terrain.
In 1961, Dr. Huang came to the United States to pursue graduate studies at the University of Virginia. He received his Master of Civil Engineering degree in 1963 and his Doctor of Science degree in 1966. He joined the Civil Engineering faculty at the University of Kentucky in 1967 until his retirement in 1993 as Professor Emeritus. A recipient of the Tau Beta Pi Outstanding Professor Award, Dr. Huang was an excellent teacher and outstanding researcher. He published more than 100 papers and reports, authored two renowned Civil Engineering textbooks, and developed copyrighted computer software programs. In 2010, he received the Career Achievement Award from the UK Civil Engineering Department.
Dr. Huang is survived by his three children (and spouses) who dearly love and miss him - Dr. Mary Ensom (Robin) of Vancouver, Canada, Dr. John Huang (Kanisa) of Lexington, and Dr. Michael Huang (Michelle) who took him into their home for the last years of his life, also of Lexington; he was also the beloved grandfather of Dr. Hannah Johnson (Eric) of Lexington, Katie Huang of Los Angeles, and Gabriel Huang, Grayson Shively, and Griffin Shively of Lexington, and the beloved great-grandfather of Lachlan and Chandler Jane Johnson.
A private family burial will be held at the Lexington Cemetery on Tuesday, September 14.
Memorial donations may be made to the Huang Family Endowed Scholarship Fund at Centenary United Methodist Church (2800 Tates Creek Rd, Lexington, KY 40502).