Many Purdue alumni are part of a long and proud Boilermaker family tradition. And some alumni are the ones who actually start the Boilermaker tradition. Count Rodolfo Gedeon among them.

In the 58 years since Gedeon graduated from Purdue's School of Civil Engineering, 14 members of his family have made the trip from Cartagena, Colombia, to become Purdue University students — and now alumni. All of them — his daughter, son, and 12 nieces and nephews — were strongly encouraged by Gedeon, who says it is thanks to Purdue that he was able to accomplish so much in his life.

“I will always be grateful for my Purdue education. Purdue helped me to open many doors during my successful career, and I have learned to do the same for many others,” he says.

Growing up in Cartagena, by age 16 he had traveled to only one other town, and he had never heard of Purdue. However, an older brother advised Gedeon — the youngest in a family with seven children — to head out to Purdue’s West Lafayette campus.

“My brother had already been to the United States to study engineering. He got his master’s at the University of Minnesota,” Gedeon says. “My parents asked my brother for advice, and he said for civil engineering, Purdue was the best place to go.”

That was all the persuasion he needed, he says. By September 1956, he was officially a Boilermaker.

“After my first year, things became very simple, and I fit in very well. I soon made the four best friends I’ve ever had. We’re still friends today, actually. We write to each other and come back to campus to watch football games,” he says.

Gedeon attributes much of his positive academic experience at Purdue to civil engineering professor Martin Gutzwiller, who inspired him.

“By far, he was my favorite professor,” Gedeon says. “He was very tough but very friendly, and he was always thinking about the students and how best to teach them.”

Gedeon earned his BSCE in 1960 and his MSCE in 1961 before returning to his hometown. In the following decades, he went on to become a well-regarded businessman and civic leader in Cartagena.

His professional and civic efforts include serving as president of Petroquimica-Colombiana S.A. (PETCO). He was a part-time professor of structural analysis and pavement design at Universidad de Cartagena for six years — before going on to serve as dean of the School of Civil Engineering for two years. He was a member of the Cartagena City Council and a founding member and president of the Fundacion Mamonal — an association that included all the companies located in the industrial area of Cartagena. He was also a founding member of Actuar por Bolivar — a nonprofit organization dedicated to helping single mothers establish and maintain small businesses.

Another significant role Gedeon played was that of an unofficial recruiter for Purdue — at least as far as his family is concerned.

“After I came back home, I would often help my nieces and nephews — and later my own children — with their math and science homework,” he says. “And I would always tell them: ‘You’ve got to get better at these; you’ll need these skills when you go to Purdue.’”

And as of this fall, the family tradition grew even further. Gedeon’s grandson, Guillermo Sanchez, started his first semester at Purdue. His grandfather, of course, came along to act as tour guide.

“The family tradition is still going strong,” Gedeon says proudly. “I can’t wait to show my next grandchild around on campus.”

The Gedeon family: (L-R) Marie Gedeon (daughter), Rodolfo Gedeon, Claudette Gedeon (wife), Rodolfo Gedeon, Jr. (son).