Texas Tech University Hurricane Research Team

Just one year short of a 60-year tenure at the Edward E. Whitacre Jr. College of Engineering, Kishor Mehta, Ph.D., P.E., is a legend in wind engineering. His awards and honors are many. He was the first person from Texas Tech to be elected a member of the National Academy of Engineering, served as the program director of structural and architectural engineering for the Engineering Directorate at the National Science Foundation and starred in an episode of “Bill Nye the Science Guy,” just to name a few. But perhaps his most recognizable achievement was developing the Enhanced Fujita Scale, which has been used in the United States since 2007 to categorize the intensity of tornadoes. While Mehta is most well-known for his renowned contributions to the body of research, his impact at Texas Tech extends beyond the classroom and laboratory. What many people may not know about the father of the Enhanced Fujita Scale is he has been making philanthropic contributions to the university since 1977. Through gifts from his retirement account, Mehta has established both a scholarship and a professorship in the College of Engineering: the Kishor C. and Mary Ann Mehta Graduate Endowment and the K.C. Mehta Professorship Endowment. The scholarship provides funding for graduate students in the National Wind Institute and stems from his work developing the doctoral program in wind science and engineering at Texas Tech. With the creation of endowments that will benefit students and professors for generations to come, Mehta has ensured his legacy, and the excellence of wind engineering at Texas Tech, will live on in perpetuity. “Texas Tech as an educational institution graduates future generations of professionals,” Mehta said. “My contribution to Texas Tech leaves a legacy that promotes education of students on a long-term basis.”