Roy Mckinney Buchan

Roy Mack McKinney Buchan passed away on Saturday, Oct. 22, 2011 with family at his side. He fought a number of valiant battles against numerous illnesses in the past few years. Roy was born in Globe, Arizona in 1943 and moved to Pueblo, Colorado in 1954 after the death of his father in an occupational accident. Roy attended Pueblo County High School where he was active in sports and excelled at football. Roy went on to receive his BS from Colorado State University, and his MS 1970 and DrPH 1972 in Industrial Hygiene IH with a specialization in aerosol sciences from the University of Oklahoma. Dr. Buchan then worked briefly as a civilian for the United States Air force prior to gaining a faculty position in the Department of Environmental Health at Colorado State University in 1973 which he held until retiring in 2003. Dr. Buchan founded the IH program in the department of Environmental and Radiological Health Sciences. He supported students in this new major by applying for and receiving numerous funded programs such as a Kellogg Foundation grant, OSHA consultation program, a NIOSH training grant to support students and a multidisciplinary center serving Public Health Service Region VIII to accomplish research, education, outreach and service related to agricultural health and safety. The High Plains Intermountain Center has remained funded serving the region since 1991. Dr. Buchan was a recognized leader in the field of Industrial Hygiene, devoting his entire professional life to the advancement and practice of Industrial Hygiene. Roy served as president of the two primary national organizations in his field: the American Conference of Government Industrial Hygienists ACGIH, and the American Industrial Hygiene Association AIHA. "He was one of those rare 'agents of change' whose passion was to change conditions for workers in the United States, but also around the world." Dr. Buchan had a passion for expanding the field of Industrial Hygiene to the developing world and sought to develop educational opportunities in multiple countries including Poland and Romania, and supported fledgling organizational development in countries such as Brazil, Venezuela, and Mexico. For his efforts to enhance opportunities for practitioners in these countries, Dr. Buchan received a number of prestigious awards including: Amicus Poloniae given to him by the Ambassador of the Republic of Poland, Janusz Reiter May 18, 2006; "The Diploma de excelenta a Senatului Universitatii Technice "Gheorghe Asachi" din Iasi" Romania by the President of the University, Professor Nicolae Badea. As a Professor Emeritus Dr. Buchan was selected by the American Industrial Hygiene Association as the recipient of the organization's most prestigious award – the Donald E. Cummings, AIHA's third president who died tragically at the age of 42. The award is given for outstanding contributions to the knowledge and practice of the profession of industrial hygiene. The award announcement noted that: "Dr. Buchan has devoted his entire professional life to the advancement of the knowledge and practice of industrial hygiene. Dr. Buchan has been instrumental in creating healthier workplaces and workers around the world, not only by his personal efforts, but by the growing cadre of trained and educated practitioners of industrial hygiene that his determined efforts have created. Roy is survived by his wife of 42 years, Vicky Buchan; his grandchildren, Seth and Raven McQuarrie; his mother, Norma Ketchum; his sister, Mary Buchan-Arnold Mike; his brother, Mike Ketchum Janice, sister in law, Kitty Gale Don; brother in law, Harry Van Camp Susan; son-in-law, Jamie McQuarrie and numerous aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews and cousins. His grandchildren wanted to state that he was a wonderful grandfather and special in every way. He was recently preceded in death by his daughter, Brook Buchan McQuarrie, deceased September 4, 2011; his father, Robert Buchan deceased 1953, his stepfather, Orris Ketchum deceased 1990 and grandparents on both sides of the family. In lieu of flowers the family requests that donations be made on his behalf to the Student Scholarship fund for students in environmental health and industrial hygiene Department of Environmental and Radiological Health Sciences, Colorado State University or to a charity or cause of your choice. The celebration of the life of Roy M. Buchan will be held 1:00 p.m., Friday, October 28, 2011, Foothills Unitarian Church, 1815 Yorktown Avenue, Fort Collins, Colorado. Dr. Marc Salkin will officiate.