George Etzweiler, at age101, stands outside his State College home on Friday, Nov. 19, 2021. Etzweiler retired from Penn State as associate professor emeritus of electrical engineering in 1990. Credit: Will Aguirre/The Daily Collegian.
Remembering electrical engineering professor and runner George Etzweiler
Apr 23, 2025
By Mariah Lucas
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — The Penn State College of Engineering community is mourning the loss of George Etzweiler, associate professor emeritus of electrical engineering, who died on March 16 at the age of 105.
While his students know him best for his dedication to electrical engineering education, Etzweiler gained fame as a senior running legend who still ran races into his 90s and 100s. He holds the record for the oldest finisher of the Mount Washington Road Race, a 7.6-mile uphill race in New Hampshire, which he last finished in 2018 at age 98.
The same drive for excellence that fueled his athletic career later in life characterized Etzweiler’s earlier academic career in the Penn State School of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science (EECS), where he taught control systems courses and advised students in the electrical engineering department before his retirement as associate professor emeritus in 1990. Etzweiler was especially devoted to mentoring his students and often spoke of how much he enjoyed teaching. He won the Penn State Engineering Alumni Society Outstanding Advising Award in 1969, 1985 and 1989, one of only two engineering faculty members to receive the award three times during their career.
Associate Professor Emeritus of Electrical Engineering Lynn Carpenter, who had been one of Etzweiler’s jogging partners for 10 years, shed light on Etzweiler’s daily work in the department.
“George scheduled the course teachers and dealt with student issues like graduation and conflicts with teachers,” Carpenter said, adding that Etzweiler also managed the office and supervised registration. “Registration in those days without computers was odious. He had high standards and was a demanding teacher.”
After serving in the Navy during World War II, Etzweiler attended Penn State and received a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering in 1949 and a master’s degree in electrical engineering in 1950. After working in industry from 1950 to 1957, he returned to Penn State as a doctoral candidate and part-time engineering instructor, joining the electrical engineering faculty full-time after his graduation in 1964.
“I had the pleasure of knowing George since the mid-1980s,” said David Salvia, associate teaching professor and director of academic affairs for EECS and a former student of Etzweiler who now holds the administrative position that Etzweiler once held in the EE department. “George would visit the EE Department a few times a year and would always stop by my office — his old office — to chat. I was amazed at how he kept himself in shape and I enjoyed hearing from him about his Mount Washington races and other endeavors.”
“He was my favorite centenarian!” Salvia added. “We will miss George and his smiling face.”
Etzweiler was a member of the American Society for Engineering Education, a senior member of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers and a member of several academic honor societies. After his retirement, he returned to campus to teach several courses on power systems and controls.
Larry Burton, professor emeritus of electrical engineering and head of the department from 1990 to 1998, crossed paths with Etzweiler a few times during his retirement. Burton recalled one Sunday morning when he was in his office in the EE East building to catch up on work and prepare for the week ahead.
“At that time, the building was essentially empty, which made these funny noises I started hearing [in the hallway] very interesting,” Burton said. “I got up, left my office and wandered into the lobby area, and there was George Etzweiler running up and down the stairs! His response, with that usual big smile on his face: ‘I'm just getting some training in for my next race!’”
Starting in 2007, Etzweiler created the “Old Men of the Mountains” 50-mile relay team — runners over the age of 65 from the Centre County community who Etzweiler personally recruited and coached — who annually ran the Tussey Mountainback 50-Mile Relay. Etzweiler also participated each year in the Paterno Family Beaver Stadium Run benefitting the Special Olympics of Pennsylvania, which he last completed in spring 2024 at age 104. He trained twice a week at Ki’netik Fitness in State College and rappelled down Beaver Stadium three times, most recently in 2023 at age 103, as a fundraiser for the Centre County United Way.
“He always had a smile on his face,” Burton said. “That was his trademark and maybe a sign of his long and happy life.”
In memory of his wife, Mary (Richard) Etzweiler, to whom he was married for 68 years, Etzweiler established the Mary A. Richard Etzweiler Scholarship in Electrical Engineering in 2014 with a $60,000 gift. The scholarship supports electrical engineering majors who have a financial need. In addition to the scholarship, Etzweiler also contributed annually to Four Diamonds (THON) and WPSU-TV, the PBS affiliate for the Central Pennsylvania region, for decades.
An open memorial service and reception honoring Etzweiler is planned for Sunday, May 25, at 2 p.m. at the University Baptist and Brethren Church at 411 S. Burrowes Street, State College.
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