Gunning, Harry E.

Harry Emmet Gunning was born on December 16, 1916 in Toronto, Ontario. He received his education at the University of Toronto including, a BA Honours, MA in English, and PhD in Physical Chemistry in 1942. Following graduation he became a postdoctoral fellow at Harvard University and a research chemist in Dr. Edgard Steacie’s Laboratory in Ottawa, Ontario. He was also a research fellow for three years with the National Research Council of Canada. In 1946, Gunning taught at the University of Rochester and later at the Illinois Institute of Technology.

In 1957, Dr. Gunning was recruited to the University of Alberta as a Professor and Chair of the Department of Chemistry. He was determined and actively supported to build a world-class chemistry department. Within a decade, under the leadership of Dr. Gunning, the Department of Chemistry achieved international recognition as a rapidly evolving centre of excellence for chemical studies. In 1973, the east wing to the Chemistry Building was built to house the rapidly expanding department with the support of Dr. Gunning.

Dr. Gunning became the 8th President of the University of Alberta in 1974. During his presidency between 1974 and 1979, Gunning introduced many innovations in science policy and administration and promoted interaction between academia, industry, and government. In addition, Gunning played a key role in promoting research and development for the exploitation of Alberta's vast oil sand resources. He helped develop Chembiomed Ltd and was instrumental in establishing the Edmonton Research and Development Park. He retired from the University in 1982.

Gunning was a physical chemist, he was internationally recognized for his research in photochemistry, kinetic mass spectrometry, reaction kinetic chemistry and oilsands chemistry and published over 175 research papers. He was president of the Chemical Institute of Canada from 1973 to 1974. He has been an active member of numerous municipal, provincial, and federal commissions and boards, including the Alberta Oil Sands Technology and Research Authority.

In recognition of his achievements both as scholar and administrator, Gunning received numerous awards, including the Chemical Institute of Canada Medal in 1967, the Province of Alberta Achievement Award in both 1971 and 1979, and six honorary degrees. Gunning was appointed an Officer of the Order of Canada in 1979. On November 30, 2001, the Chemistry Building on the University of Alberta campus was renamed the Gunning/Lemieux Chemistry Centre in honour of two of the Department's most distinguished chemists, Harry Gunning and Raymond Urgel Lemieux.

Gunning died at age of 85 on November 24, 2002 in Edmonton, Alberta. Gunning’s wife Donna taught school, and died in 1992. They have a daughter, Judy and three grandsons.

Y. Song 8 Nov. 2021. Updated by M.Fraser 10 Dec. 2021.

Harry Gunning. University of Alberta Centenary. http://wayback.archive-it.org/1830/20140930204001/http://www.ualbertacentennial.ca/organization/presidents/gunning.html (accessed 8 Nov. 2021)
Holubitsky, Jeff. “Former U of A president Harry Gunning a ‘genius and a giant’” Edmonton Journal. December 10, 2002., Biographical File, University of Alberta Archives.
The Canadian Encyclopedia. Harry Gunning. https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/harry-emmett-gunning (accessed 8 Nov. 2021).
University of Saskatchewan Archives and Special Collections. Honorary Degrees. https://library.usask.ca/archives/campus-history/honorary-degrees.php?id=380&view=detail&keyword=&campuses= (accessed 8 Nov. 2021)