A Bronze Bust was Dedicated to Dr. McKetta, namesake of the University of Texas Department of Chemical Engineering for his 103rd Birthday Celebration
BrightStar Care of Austin Pays Tribute to A Special Client: Owner/Artist George Sanchez creates bronze statue to recognize Dr. McKetta on his 103rd Birthday
Austin, Texas (October 17, 2018) - A Bronze Bust life-like sculpture was created by BrightStar Care of Austin’s Owner and Artist, George Sanchez, and presented to Dr. John J. McKetta, a client of BrightStar Care, and the world renowned chemical engineer and namesake of University of Texas McKetta Department of Chemical Engineering. The bust was a special gift presented to Dr. McKetta on his 103rd Birthday.
BrightStar Care, a Home Health Care Agency in Austin, helped celebrate Dr. McKetta’s milestone birthday by creating and revealing a bronze sculpture to the well-known Austin professor. Dr. McKetta was also presented with cake and UT students and faculty singing “Happy Birthday” at this special reveal.
The bronze-bust of Dr. McKetta was created by sculpture artist and BrightStar Care President/Owner, George Sanchez. Sanchez and his team of BrightStar caregivers wanted to recognize Dr. McKetta’s lifetime contributions to Texas University and the world. They also wanted to celebrate the special relationship between McKetta and BrightStar. BrightStar has been providing care to the doctor and has a close relationship with his caregiver. McKetta’s caretaker, Mark Radosavljevic, and Sanchez wanted to do something special for a favorite client on very special occasion. “We consider Dr. McKetta a friend and part of the BrightStar family. He has done so much for the world and we wanted to celebrate him and memorialize his life” said Sanchez. Drawing on his artistic talents, Sanchez designed and sculpted the bronze bust gift for Dr. McKetta. Watch here how the bust was created and highlights from the reveal and birthday celebration on YouTube:
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“There is a very special relationship and bond that develops between a caretaker and client. BrightStar caregiver’s become a part of their client’s life and work closely with their family supporting them in their home and with daily activities”. “To be able to create a special gift for someone special to us was a privilege and honor for our BrightStar Care Team”.
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Sanchez added.Together with The University of Texas McKetta Department of Chemical Engineering staff, BrightStar Care helped arrange the special birthday celebration and bust reveal for Dr. McKetta. Dr McKetta’s reaction to seeing his sculpture for the first time was “there are two of us”. It was a heartwarming time to see Dr. McKetta’s reaction to the bust and to the surprise birthday cake and song from an enthusiastic group of BrightStar Caregivers and UT Students. The bust will be on display at The University of Texas McKetta Department of Chemical Engineering is encouraging people to celebrate Dr. McKetta’s birthday with us and post your favorite #McKettaMemory on social media, send your photos and stories, or make a birthday gift in honor of Dr. McKetta to UT (Click Here)
About Dr. John J. McKetta Jr.
Dr. McKetta is an American chemical engineer known for his research on more efficient ways to create energy and the thermodynamic properties of hydrocarbons. Born in Wyano, Pennsylvania, he obtained his BSE, MS, and PhD degrees from the University of Michigan. He joined the faculty of the chemical engineering department of the University of Texas in 1946, later serving as department chair, dean of the UT College of Engineering, and vice chancellor of the UT System. He served as energy advisor to Presidents Richard Nixon, Gerald Ford, Ronald Reagan, and George H. W. Bush. He published over 400 papers and wrote or edited 87 books, including the 68-volume "Encyclopedia of Chemical Processing and Design". He was elected to the National Academy of Engineering and, in 2009, was selected by the American Institute of Chemical Engineers as one of the "50 Chemical Engineers of the Foundation Age." He also served as president of AIChE in 1962. In 2012 the University of Texas renamed his department as the John J. McKetta Jr. Department of Chemical Engineering. As a published author, he is widely held in libraries worldwide.
About BrightStar Care of Austin:
BrightStar Care of Austin provides quality home care caregivers and medical staffing solutions to families and businesses in the Austin metro area. Its home care agency services include senior home and pediatric care, Alzheimer’s and dementia care, skilled nursing care, caregivers and childcare/nanny services, special needs care, infusion pharmacy services and more. Proudly serving Central Austin, Eastern Travis County, North Austin, East Austin, West Austin, Lake Travis, South Austin, Round Rock, Georgetown, and Tarrytown. For more information, please call 512-452-9800, or visit www.brightstarcare.com/austin