ECE Florida is saddened to learn of the passing of esteemed alumnus Dr. Fred Sias, Jr. (BSEE ’54 MSEE ’59). Fred Sias’ connection with ECE Florida is a deep one—his father, Ralph Sias, graduated from the University of Florida in 1928 with a Bachelor’’s Degree in Electrical Engineering.

The Ralph Sias Scholarship Fund was created to assist meritorious juniors or seniors in Electrical and Computer Engineering who are Fla. high school graduates. The fund is named in honor of Ralph Sias, who graduated from the University of Florida in 1928 with a bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering. Over the course of his career, he earned 18 patents, including some vital to the war effort during World War II.