Professor Howard Petrea joined NC State in 1946 as an instructor of mathematics.  This followed a tour of duty in the U.S. Navy of 4 years.  He later interrupted his career here by returning to the Navy for 2 years in 1951 and retired at the rank of commander.  His graduate education was obtained at Harvard University and UNC at Chapel Hill.  He became an associate professor in 1959 and retired in that rank in 1989. Howard Petrea received every award which recognizes excellence in teaching during his tenure at NC State.  In 1976 he was honored as an alumni distinguished professor; in 1965, 1971 and 1983 he was honored as an outstanding teacher; for each of the years 1970 through 1975, and also 1977 he was ranked in the top 5% of the faculty at NC State who the graduating class considered "the person who contributed most to my education at NC State"; in the years 1961 and 1962 he received the Phi Eta Sigma "Freshman Instructor of the Year" award.  Therefore it is entirely fitting that the mathematics department has an award in his name to recognize an outstanding rising senior.