Born June 10, 1892 in Baltimore, the fourth of six children of Polish-Jewish immigrants, Wolman became one of the world's most highly respected leaders in the field of sanitary engineering, which evolved into what is now known as environmental engineering. His contributions in the areas of water supply, water and wastewater treatment, public health, nuclear reactor safety, and engineering education helped to significantly improve the health and prosperity of people not only in the United States but also around the world.

Wolman attended Johns Hopkins University, earning a bachelor's degree in 1913 and another bachelor's in engineering in 1915. He was one of four students in the first graduating class in the School of Engineering. In 1937, having already made major contributions in the field of sanitary engineering, he was awarded an honorary doctorate by the school. That same year he...