Our Arklahoma Heritage: A Delaware County-born robotics expert heads up the University of Michigan program
- Dennis McCaslin
- Jun 14
- 2 min read
Jessy W. Grizzle was born in Jay, (Delaware County,) and grew up on a livestock farm there, the first in his family to attend college. That rural upbringing instilled a strong work ethic, practical problem-solving skills, and a deep appreciation for hands-on engineering that would define his career.
He earned a B.S. in electrical engineering from Oklahoma State University in 1979 and a Ph.D. from the University of Texas at Austin in 1983, followed by postdoctoral work in France.
Grizzle joined the University of Michigan faculty in 1987. Over more than three decades, he rose to become the Elmer G. Gilbert Distinguished University Professor and the Jerry W. and Carol L. Levin Professor of Engineering.
From 2016 to 2022 he served as the founding director of the Michigan Robotics Institute, guiding its growth into a full academic department with undergraduate, master's, and doctoral programs.
His leadership helped establish robotics as a major field at the university and produced graduates who now work at top companies and institutions worldwide.
His research transformed bipedal robotics through advances in nonlinear control and feedback systems. Grizzle and his team developed some of the most advanced walking robots in the world, including Mabel and MARLO, pushing the boundaries of stable, agile locomotion in unpredictable environments.
Their work earned a Guinness World Record for the longest operation of a bipedal robot in extreme cold and led to numerous patents, hundreds of highly cited publications, and applications ranging from prosthetics to autonomous vehicles. In January 2024, after his final Ph.D. students had defended, he closed his Biped Robotics Lab to focus on undergraduate teaching, creating innovative courses such as ROB 101 and ROB 201 that make advanced mathematics accessible and engaging for the next generation of engineers.
Grizzle married Dr. Laurie K. McCauley, a distinguished dental researcher and former dean at the University of Michigan School of Dentistry. The couple has supported scholarships together, including the Drs. Laurie McCauley and Jessy Grizzle Endowed Dental Scholarship Fund. Details about children remain largely private, reflecting the family's preference for a low public profile outside of professional accomplishments.
As of jJune2026, Jessy Grizzle remains active in teaching and mentoring at the University of Michigan. No death or burial details apply at this time. His story from a Delaware County farm to global impact in robotics highlights the enduring importance of family roots, dedication to rigorous work in the field, and a commitment to passing knowledge forward.
