Description: (African-American Mechanical and Electrical Engineer)
David N. Crosthwait Jr. was a notable African-American mechanical and electrical engineer, inventor, and writer known for his expertise in air ventilation, central air conditioning, and heat transfer systems. He designed heating systems for prestigious buildings such as Rockefeller Center and Radio City Music Hall in New York. In 1975, Crosthwait was awarded an honorary doctoral degree from Purdue University. He made history as the first African American fellow of the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) in 1971 and was also honored as a fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS).