Texas A and M University - Aggieland Yearbook (College Station, TX)

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elected to membership in the American Society of Civil Engineers and of the Society for the Promotion of Engineering Education. Professor Nagle’s connection with the Agricultural and Mechanical College began in September, 1892, when he was elected Assistant Professor of Civil Engineering. Two years afterwards he was promoted to a full professorship and the head of his department, which position he has since continuously held. Aside from his teaching he has done considerable prac¬ tical work in his profession. During the summer of 1888, while still a student at the Un iversity, he served the Austin and Northwestern Railway as Assistant Engineer; from 1889 to 1890 he was Topographer of the Texas Geological Survey; in 1894 he acted as Chief Engineer of the Brazos- Brenham Railway, and in 1899 he was Assistant Chief Engineer of the Houston East and West Texas lines. From 1898-1902 he served the United States Department of Agriculture as an expert in irrigation investigations. College Station owes to his skill the system of graded roads and sidewalks, the septic tank and the sewer system. At present he is chief engineer for the district levee being built in Burleson County, a very important and ex¬ pensive venture that is expected to revolutionize farming in the twenty- seven miles of bottom land that will be protected from the ravages of the Brazos river. Finally, he has written a Manual of Railroad Engineering that is recognized by competent authorities all over the United States as one of the very best texts on the subject. These evidences of the success of Professor Nagle in the practical held of Engineering must be set down in fairness to him. At the same time there is in it an element of unfairness, for his close friends say that many other lucrative offers have been put aside because they would have interfered with his work as a teacher. Indeed had not Professor Nagle been so devoted to his work for this College his professorship would have long ago been vacated. It is, after all, his efficient teaching in the class¬ room and on the practice field that has most endeared him to hundreds of A. M. men. To the dull student he is patient and kind, to the bright student he is a stimulus that spurs a boy to his highest effort—to all he is helpful and inspiring. His teaching, while always conscientious and thor¬ ough, is relieved by occasional flashes of mother wit and by kindly humor¬ ous stories. Outside of the classroom Professor Nagle is the warm hearted friend of his students. Often he and Mrs. Nagle, to whom he was married in 1903, entertain them in their home. Nor does he neglect to keep up with his graduates. There are many practic’ng engineers in Texas and elsewhere who owe to him their situations. Indeed, it seems a matter of 4

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James C. Nagle a -H = N ancient and well known story of a Greek philosopher tells us how he always carried a lighted lantern as he walked about the streets of Athens. Being one day asked the reason for this practice, he replied that he was looking for a man. This search for men has been going on continually all through the ages. Now and then one is discovered, and at once the world delights to do him honor. In the little world that makes up the Agricul¬ tural and Mechanical College of Texas the same sharp lookout is kept for the person who possesses distinctive manly qualities—who is brave without being boastful; scholarly without being pedantic; loyal and big hearted without the sacrifice of dignity or of straightforward honesty; who loves truth and plain speaking even as he practices the gentle courtesies that go far to make life worth living. Such a man the students of this college believe they have found in Professor James C. Nagle. The days of the laurel wreath are passed, and in lieu of that chaplet of distinction we pay him the highest honor in our gift. This eighth Long Horn is a tribute to him from the Class of Nineteen and Ten. Professor Nagle’s brown hair, blue eyes and ruddy complexion are indications of his Celtic or, perhaps, Anglo-Saxon origin. He was born of Irish parentage at Richmond, Virginia, in 1865. Nine years later his family moved to Texas, settling at Manor. Here Professor Nagle had the good fortune for three years to be under the instruction of Dr. Thomas C. Bittle, long chaplain of this college, and his brother, Professor Beale Bittle, for some time in charge of the campus school. He entered the University of Texas in 1886, and took the degree of Bachelor of Science two and a half years later. In 1892 the University of Pennsylvania conferred the C. E. degree on him. During the following year he took a course of study in absentia from Cornell University, leading to the degree of M. C. E. At the completion of the work he was allowed the unusual privilege of having the examination papers sent to him. President Sul Ross conducted the examination, and the degree was forwarded to Professor Nagle before he had ever seen Cornell. He has received further academic honors in being 73120

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1 -•! j j ! pride for them to let him know whenever they achieve any particular success. And now the reader possesses about all that can be set down in a sketch of this kind, and must have seen—if he doesn’t doubt the writer’s sincerity —just why this tribute is paid to Profes sor Nagle. He first prepared him¬ self for his work, which, as one very near to him says, “Is his very life;” and he has done, and is still doing, this work with singleness of purpose and with a humane disregard of our shortcomings. His saving sense of humor prevents him from taking himself or his work too seriously, and, at the same time—more fortunate than all—it prevents him from taking us too seriously. His absorption in exacting duties has not, thus far, made him any the less human. He is simply a sane, honest, plain man— a big bodied, big-brained, big-souled man—who has won, and will hold forever, our esteem and love. ‘ 1 : ' -V; . ' j ■ :| . ' . ' I 5