Robert Lee Lafrenz

West Point, 1955

Be Thou At Peace

Posted by Randy Rapp on February 25, 2025:

As I reflect back half a century, we were so fortunate to be in then-LTC Lafrenz's PH487 Nuclear Reactor Physics class, fall 1974. A classmate and I recently reminisced about our fond memory of LTC Lafrenz. His course was a prerequisite or co-requisite course for the CE453-454 Nuclear Engineering courses we took to meet our engineering requirement for graduation. LTC Lafrenz selected Lamarsh's Nuclear Reactor Theory textbook, and it was challenging: neutron flux and neutron diffusion and transport theory. He was a very effective professor because he set high standards, knew his material very well, and communicated well. His thorough, focused lectures with assured and well-modulated voice reinforced our study to enable our effective learning. We had a number of informative labs using the U-238 water reactor in the classroom, in the basement of Bartlett Hall. Maybe one of the best exercises of all he assigned was the debate: pro-nuclear energy vs. con-nuclear energy. There were eight of us in the class, four cadets per team. The con-nuclear pushed solar for homes and small structures, emission-scrubbed coal for most energy needs. (Some changes in 50 years.) LTC Lafrenz was not so happy with the con-nuclear arguments, perhaps because they may have outshown the pro-nuclear argument. But the arguments and rebuttals were wide open, with intellectual challenge for all and even-handed treatment for the con-nuclear team. By all actions, LTC Lafrenz encouraged our learning, and he served as a wonderful example of the competence and caring an Army Engineer officer should deliver.

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