In 1944, the Charles Russ Richards Award was established as a joint award of Pi Tau Sigma and ASME to recognize the outstanding achievement in mechanical engineering by graduating 20 years or more. The Charles Russ Richards Memorial Award is presented to an engineering graduate who has demonstrated outstanding achievement in mechanical engineering twenty years or more following graduation with a baccalaureate degree. The award is bestowed for overall outstanding achievement in the mechanical engineering field during the set period of time.

The award, established in 1944 by Pi Tau Sigma in coordination with ASME, honors Charles Russ Richards, founder of Pi Tau Sigma at the University of Illinois, former head of mechanical engineering and dean of engineering at the University of Illinois and later president of Lehigh University. He was a member of ASME and served on its Board of Governors.

Form of Award: $1000, Certificate and Travel expense supplement to attend the award presentation.

Limitation(s): The nominee must be person who has received a baccalaureate degree in Mechanical Engineering or other related filed in more than twenty calendar years from the year of the award presentation.

Prof. J.N. Reddy received the Charles Russ Richards Memorial Award in 1995.