A curriculum vita does not begin to adequately reflect the numerous achievements and contributions of Fred S. Venable.

Collectively, Venable contributed over 37 years to the advancement of occupational health. He received a BS in Chemical Engineering from the University of Texas in 1947 and a MS in industrial hygiene from Harvard University in 1949. For 32 years he was employed with the Exxon Company. While there, he received Exxon’s Meritorious Service Award in recognition of extraordinary service.

Venable retired from Exxon in 1982 but continued to work in the profession as a private consultant. His exemplary professional career included serving as president of the AIHA Deep South Local Section, an AIHA board director, and Academy of Industrial Hygiene president. At the time of his passing, he was a husband, father, grandfather, colleague, teacher, and friend.


Scholarship Eligibility Criteria

In awarding the Fred S. Venable / Deep South Local Section Scholarship, student(s) must be a resident of and enrolled in a full-time occupational/environmental safety and health sciences program at an accredited university in one of the following states: Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, or Texas.

Current and Past Recipients

2023 - 2024
Belinda Marshall, University of Houston-Clear Lake

2022 - 2023
Karena O'Bryan, Murray State University

2021 - 2022
Ethan Cagle, Murray State University

2020 - 2021
Rachel Miller, University of Oklahoma

2019 - 2020
Zoe Philipson, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University - Worldwide

2018 - 2019
Ian Umstead, Murray State University

2017 - 2018
Jordan R. Nelson, University of Alabama at Birmingham

2016 - 2017
Alexandra E. Shishkova, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston

2015 - 2016
Jason Garcia, University of South Florida

2014 - 2015
Callie I. Copeland, Murray State University

2013 - 2014
Gumindenga F. Mabvuta, University of Alabama at Birmingham

2012 - 2013
Ashley R. Birdwell, Murray State University

2011 - 2012
William John Pate, University of Texas

2010 - 2011
Evan Floyd, University of Alabama at Birmingham

2009 - 2010
Austin Cohoon, Murray State University

2008 - 2009
Maggie J. Haverkamp, Murray State University

2007 - 2008
Sheila L. Flack, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill​