MinerAlert
MinerAlert
Anthony Tarquin, Ph.D., will be deservedly retiring this month after having dedicated more than 50 years to The University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP) and the Department of Civil Engineering as a professor profoundly respected for his notable research advancements in the areas of water and wastewater treatment.
Tarquin has consistently contributed to the growth and success of the University and has made a lasting impact on the community working for El Paso Water, Parkhill Smith & Cooper, projects with the United States Bureau of Reclamation and Texas Water Development Board. He attributes a great deal of the support he has received throughout his career to Carlos Ferregut, Ph.D., UTEP Department of Civil Engineering chair and long-time colleague.
“For 52 years Dr. Anthony Tarquin has represented the values of the Department of Civil Engineering through his teaching, research and service to the profession and especially to our community. I would call Dr. Tarquin a real Miner since he spent all of these years mining students minds to uncover their innate talents. Dr. Tarquin is a member of a generation of faculty that made invaluable contributions to the transformation of the University from a well-known educational institution to a top tier research institution, due to their vision, commitment and loyalty to the University. We will always be indebted to Dr. Tarquin for all the courses he taught, the research opportunities he provided to our undergraduate and graduate students, and the valuable advice he provided to junior and senior faculty alike. Tony’s gentle personality and sense of humor will be missed. I wish him a pleasant, fun and exciting retirement as long and as his professional career,” Ferregut said.
Through the research opportunities he provided undergraduate and graduate students, Tarquin collaborated with El Paso Water, with his research sustaining the fundamental support they needed to lay the cornerstone of a multitude of projects. “Dr. Tarquin’s pilot work was instrumental in determining the design criteria for El Paso Water’s state-of-the-art 27.5 MGD Kay Bailey Hutchison Desalination Plant. His years of research at El Paso Water resulted in the optimization of water plants, water wells, and a considerable amount of energy and money savings for the utility. Dr. Tarquin is a man of excellence and a committed friend of mine. His wisdom and support made me a better person. I am truly blessed to have had him in my life,” said Fernando Rico, Civil Engineering alumnus and former El Paso Water Chief Operations Officer.
Over the years, Tarquin has been involved with many national and international research efforts, has written and co-authored numerous books, and obtained a patent on reverse osmosis sea water treatment. He also holds a permanent endowment in his name founded by a former student, reiterating that Tarquin, reflecting back on his illustrious career, is most proud of his students.
“When I hear from students who have been successful that I have had in class, it gives me a tremendous amount of satisfaction and I would say that is the thing that I get most from the job I have right now, is seeing the success of students who have passed through our department,” Tarquin said.
As he looks back on his time at UTEP, Tarquin says there is one adage that stands out. “Choose a job you love, and you'll never have to work a day in your life.’ I have been on vacation for nearly 52 years, and UTEP paid me all the while. Now that is a great life!”