Department of Mathematics - NC State University

Kwangil was an undergraduate at Auburn University in Alabama, where he was awarded the Bachelor of Science in 1959 and a Master of Science in 1960. His Ph.D. research was conducted at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, where he received his doctorate in 1964. Immediately thereafter, Kwangil was appointed as an Instructor at North Carolina State University, where he remained for the rest of his life, rising through the academic ranks to Professor, before retiring in 2004.

Professor Koh’s research interests were in the areas of ring theory, number theory, group theory and topological algebra. He was the Ph.D. advisor for eleven students. Kwangil strongly promoted Algebra at NC State over several decades, encouraging new hires and generally raising the visibility of the area as a strength of the mathematics department.

After retirement, he maintained strong connections with the department, occasionally teaching a class, and continuing to work on his research, both in Harrelson Hall and in the D.H. Hill library. He could be seen early every weekday morning exercising in the gymnasium, or walking to and from the gym, and he regularly joined a group of current and emeritus faculty for lunch.

All those who knew Kwangil were shocked by the suddenness of his death, and miss his jovial presence. A memorial service will be held at the University Club, 4200 Hillsborough Street, Raleigh at 2pm on Sunday, February 15th. A brief biography and photographs may be found at the NC State Mathematics Department history web site: http://www4.ncsu.edu/~njrose/Special/Bios/Koh.html