Rice Remembers

As we celebrate our school’s legacy of impact and innovation over the fifty years since its founding in 1975, we also honor the remarkable individuals who shaped our journey.

Robert “Bob” Maxfield was a pioneering engineer, co-founder of ROLM Corporation, esteemed Rice University graduate and past board of trustees member. His career and contributions to engineering and technology left a lasting mark on both academia and industry. Maxfield earned his B.A. (1963) and B.S. (1964) in electrical engineering from Rice University, followed by an M.S. (1966) and Ph.D. (1969) from Stanford University. Maxfield’s time at Rice was formative and laid the foundation for a distinguished career characterized by innovation and leadership. His passion for technology and entrepreneurship drove him to co-found ROLM Corporation in 1969 with fellow Rice graduates Gene Richeson ’62, Ken Oshman ’62 and Walter Loewenstern ’59. Widely credited with starting up Silicon Valley and honored with the Dean's Appreciation Award in 2022, Maxfield and his ROLM co-founders embodied the spirit of discovery that continues to inspire Rice Engineering and Computing today.

Beyond his professional achievements, Maxfield was dedicated to fostering the next generation of engineers. Highlights among his many contributions include his active involvement in Rice’s academic community, where he maintained a lasting relationship through mentorship and support; his investment in OpenStax, the Rice-founded nonprofit and world’s largest publisher of open educational resources; and the refurbishment and reopening of Maxfield Hall in 2021. He served on the Rice Board of Trustees from 1994 to 2012 and remained active on the School of Engineering Advisory Board until his passing. In 1999, Maxfield was honored with the school’s Outstanding Engineering Alumni Award and in 2017, Maxfield was honored with Rice’s Meritorious Service Award for his enduring commitment to advancing engineering education and research.

Wade Adams, former director of the Richard E. Smalley Institute for Nanoscale Science and Technology at Rice University, joined Rice in 2002 to succeed Nobel laureate Richard Smalley as director of the Center for Nanoscale Science and Technology (CNST), one of the first research centers in the world formally dedicated to nanoscale research. CNST, renamed to honor Smalley after his passing, merged with the Rice Quantum Institute in 2015 to become the Smalley-Curl Institute, where Adams’ legacy is still manifest today. Under Adams’ leadership, the institute expanded faculty, secured major research funding, and strengthened industry and government partnerships. He also played a key role in establishing the Lockheed Martin Advanced Nanotechnology Center of Excellence at Rice, a multiyear research initiative. Before arriving at Rice, Adams spent 32 years at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, retiring as a chief scientist.

In 2011, Adams transitioned to associate dean in the George R. Brown School of Engineering and Computing and later became a senior faculty fellow in materials science and nanoengineering before retiring in 2018. Beyond his research, Adams built a strong sense of community at Rice, where he was known for his love of volleyball, TunaFest, and his years-long advocacy for nanotechnology research.