Southwestern University - Souwester Yearbook (Georgetown, TX)

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DR. ROBERT STEWART HYER.

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ROBERT STEWART HYER, M.A., LL.D. Regent of Southwestern University. ' Professor of Physics. Robert Stewart Hyer was born October 18, i860, in Oxford, Ga. He at- tended the Atlanta High School and later Emory College preparatory school, where he won a scholarship to Emory College, which he entered in 1876. There he became a member of the X3 Fraternity and also joined the Few Literary Society, progressing in public speaking until he won the Sophomore Declaimer ' s Medal, also the Junior Orator ' s Medal. During his last two years at Emory he was assistant professor in laboratory chemistry. In 1881 he received the A.B. degree with first honors. Southwestern University having secured his services as Professor of Natural Science, he reached Georgetown, Tex., December 20, 1881, assuming his duties in January, 1882, and from that time has been identified with the growth of the University, acting a more prominent part than his retiring nature displays to the public. Honors have come to him unsought. After he received, in 1884, the degree M.A. from his alma mater, Central College of Missouri conferred the degree LL.D. upon the now widely-known scientist. Dove — fairest of honor ' s garlands, but, in this instance, not unsought — crowned Dr. Hyer, when he was united, February 24, 1887, in marriage with Miss Margaret Hudgins, a graduate of S. W. U. Dr. and Mrs. Hyer have three children : Victoria Ray, Robert Stewart, Jr., and Margaret Hearne. Not the least of Dr. Hyer ' s honors is a remark, made in conversation, by his wife: Dr. Hyer never loses his temper. He has been three times a delegate to the General Conference of the M. E. Church, vSouth; in 1898, at Baltimore; in 1902, at Dallas, and at Birmingham in 1906. He was also a delegate to the Ecumenical Conference in London in 1901, at which time, accompanied by Mrs. Hyer, he spent three months in England. When the famous X-ray was discovered, Dr. Hyer ' s prompt experiments and thorough researches at once extended his reputation as a scientist. His election as Regent soon followed. The special meeting of the Curators of Southwestern University in 1897 at Waco elected Dr. Hyer, Regent, but he declined the honor, preferring to devote his whole attention to science. However, he was again elected to the Regency, May 30, 1898. Although it was with reluctance that Dr. Hyer assumed the responsibility, yet since his incumbency of the office his abil-