News Summary
Charles ‘Chuck’ Corley, a 78-year-old Air Force veteran, has made history as the oldest person to earn a Ph.D. from the University of Texas at Austin. His doctorate in electrical and computer engineering focused on the effects of radiation on microprocessors. With a notable career in the semiconductor industry, Corley’s determination and resilience exemplify the essence of lifelong learning. The University continues to maintain its reputation for academic excellence across various programs while promoting recreational opportunities for residents in Austin.
Austin – Charles “Chuck” Corley, a 78-year-old Air Force veteran, has made history by becoming the oldest individual to earn a Ph.D. at the University of Texas at Austin. Corley received his doctorate from the Cockrell School of Engineering earlier this month, marking a significant achievement in his academic journey that began in his sixties.
Corley successfully completed his doctorate in electrical and computer engineering in December 2024. His dissertation focused on analyzing the radiation effects on microprocessors running Linux, an area that highlights the intersection of his military and technological experiences. As a veteran with an extensive background in the semiconductor industry, including notable positions at Texas Instruments, Motorola, and NXP, Corley brought a wealth of practical knowledge to his academic pursuits.
Before embarking on his graduate studies, Corley graduated from the U.S. Air Force Academy in 1968 with an impressive 4.0 GPA and served as a forward air controller during the Vietnam War. His career in technology led him to develop microprocessors, notably collaborating with Apple and IBM on the PowerPC chips, which have played a crucial role in computing history.
Despite the challenges faced by older students in graduate school, which included younger peers being hesitant to collaborate on team projects, Corley exhibited remarkable determination. He likened his journey through academia to marathon running, emphasizing the importance of perseverance and resilience in overcoming obstacles.
The University of Texas at Austin continues to reflect academic excellence, having been ranked as the top graduate school in Texas by U.S. News & World Report for 2025. The institution also claims first-place rankings in several categories, including Best Engineering Schools, Best Education Schools, Best Law Schools, Best Business Schools, and Best Nursing Schools. Notably, the McCombs School of Business has one of the highest-ranking accounting programs in the state, while the petroleum engineering program at the Cockrell School of Engineering is recognized for its excellence.
In addition to this educational achievement, the pharmacy program at UT Austin is noteworthy, holding the number one spot statewide and ranked sixth nationally. This diverse range of highly-rated programs contributes to UT Austin’s reputation as a leading academic institution.
Shifting focus to the local context, Austin also offers recreational opportunities, with its park system recently rated as the fifth best in Texas according to the Trust for Public Land’s 2025 ParkScore report. Despite a slight decline in overall ranking, Austin residents enjoy the benefits of 512 parks that provide spaces for recreation and leisure. Approximately 68% of Austin residents live within a half-mile of a park, which is close to the national median of 76%.
The city invests $221 per resident in its park system, significantly higher than the national median of $133. This commitment underscores the city’s dedication to enhancing public spaces for its citizens and visitors. The report showed Washington, D.C., as the leading city for park systems nationwide, followed by Irvine, California; Minneapolis, Minnesota; Cincinnati, Ohio; and St. Paul, Minnesota.
As Chuck Corley celebrates his groundbreaking achievement at this advanced stage of life, his story serves as an inspiration for lifelong learning and perseverance, illustrating that it is never too late to pursue one’s academic and professional aspirations.
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Additional Resources
- KXAN: Meet the University of Texas’ oldest ever graduate
- Wikipedia: University of Texas at Austin
- CBS Austin: 78-year-old earns PhD from UT Austin
- Google Search: University of Texas graduate school rankings
- Dallas Observer: Texas graduate schools ranked
- Google Scholar: University of Texas at Austin PhD programs
- Austin American-Statesman: UT doctorate student overcomes adversity
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Graduate School
- Chron: Texas college rankings
- Google News: UT Austin PhD graduation 2025
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