Professor honored

- Summer 1994 "Update" Newsletter Article -

Professor honored
Vince Petrucci, master builder of enology and viticulture research programs, steps down
From CATI Publication #940701
Copyright © 1994. All rights reserved.
Several dozen CSU, Fresno faculty and staff, students, and members of the grape and wine industries gathered recently to honor Vincent E. Petrucci during a reception acknowledging his retirement from the university.

"Professor," as he was affectionately called by students and colleagues, had served for the last nine years as director of the Viticulture and Enology Research Center (VERC) at CSU, Fresno.

But as most of his friends well know, Petrucci's service to the university began much earlier than nine years ago. He was hired in 1948 as Fresno State College's first viticulture professor, when the campus was located at Hammer Field near the Fresno Airport. Over the next 45 years, the Professor went on to build educational and applied research programs that are now recognized as among the finest in the world in the areas of viticulture and enology.

Prior to joining the faculty at Fresno State, Petrucci had earned bachelor's and master's degrees in plant science from the University of California at Davis. Although he had plans to continue his work there in a doctoral program in education, things changed with his being offered the position at Fresno State, and he never completed his doctorate-until now: In a special announcement during the April reception, CSU, Fresno President John Welty announced that the university, during its May 1994 graduation ceremonies, would award Petrucci an honorary Doctor of Science degree.

"The degree is given in recognition of the contributions he has made to students, the university and the agribusiness industry, and the international prestige he has helped bring to this campus," Welty said.

And Professor Petrucci is not only an internationally renowned authority in the grape and wine industry; he also is "an outstanding educator and, perhaps most significantly, a mentor to countless students who are now his legacy as they serve in positions of industry leadership throughout the world,” the president noted.

Among Petrucci's accomplishments has been leadership in the establishment of VERC as an applied research arm of the California Agricultural Technology Institute (CATI) in 1985. Since that time, the Professor has led efforts to raise more than $6 million from private industry, alumni and friends of the university for use in improving and expanding VERC facilities.

He also was an integral figure in development of the patented technology used in VERC's Microwave Vacuum Drying (MIVAC) unit, a prototype system that uses the combination of microwave and vacuum technologies in drying fruits, vegetables, and other products.

As director emeritus of VERC, Petrucci will maintain an office at CSU, Fresno and will continue fundraising efforts in a $3 million VERC endowment campaign that will permanently fund three VERC positions: director; research scientist for viticulture; and research scientist for enology.

CATI wishes Vince the best.

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