University of Pittsburgh - Owl Yearbook (Pittsburgh, PA)

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This fishix' and writin’ associate professor of English hides out in his quarters in the Early American room when he isn’t teaching, advising, or telling about the big one that got away.” Mr. Peterson is a real Pitt citizen this year for he has just completed 21 years as a member of the faculty. Students appreciate Pete’s” pleasant sense ot humor and his non-indulgence in sarcasm. To this professor students are real people— not just people. The creative writing department is Mr. Peterson’s greatest contribution to the University. To aid in the development of this program, Pete” gathers the best student writings and publishes them in STUDENT WRIT NO another of his inovations. Mr. Peterson practices the same writing principles that he teaches to his students. His full length, idyllic, -VO LITE SO HAPPY, vividly portrays the delights of fishing. The air force and the Pitt band have shared most of Captain James I). Hunter’s time since he first came to Pitt as a freshman in 1938. Drum major and student director of the band, Jim Hunter still found time to complete four years of ROTC and accept a commission when he graduated in 1942. After service overseas with the Twelfth Air Force, Jim returned to Pitt in 1945 a first lieutenant and became an instructor in the military department. Now a captain, Jim Hunter is a familiar figure as the friendly adjutant of the military department and instructor in air ROTC and also as the joke-cracking drill master of the high stepping 150 piece Pitt band. When June comes bringing recess for some students and summer school for others. Jim Hunter leaves to help train the Pitt air ROTC cadets for the day when they don the shiny new gold bars. More than two decades of Pitt students have studied philosophy under tall red-haired Dr. Mont R. Gabbert. Dr. Gabbert landed on the University faculty in 1921 fresh from Graduate School of Chicago University. Since that time the big man with the quiet voice has s| ent his days calmly explaining philosophy and gently dispelling popular misconceptions and prejudices concerning his field. Philosophy, he will tell you, is the business of every thinking person. As head of the philosophy department, Dr. Gabbert is burdened with many administrative duties, but he can always find time to give individual help to his students. He also makes it his duty to help the new professor in his department become a part of Pitt. Outside school Dr. Gabbert devotes his leisure moments to music, the movies, and a family that furnishes many of his classroom illustrations. I r. GnlilH'rl Some STUDENTS may spend four years at college and meet very few people, but if there is any student at Pitt who doesn't know Dr. Ferguson, we’d like to meet him or her. John Maxwell Ferguson PhD, Jur. I)., professor of economics is the way the faculty directory lists him, but to the entire student body this colorful and beloved prof is just plain Fergie. Cigarette holder in hand, Fergie rarely misses a school event despite a heavy schedule of classes and research work for a new economics text. Fraternity and sorority houses are always open to him, and ancient is the piano that Fergie can’t coax a tune out of at the Greek affairs. Tap day, Scholars day, Spring Festival, all find the good doctor doing his bit to help students get the most of college life. A professor in learning but a student at heart is Pitt’s Doc Ferguson. 23 l)r. Ferguson

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I)r. Jnnc» He was here after the first world war, and he’s still here; in fact, Professor Montfort Jones has been teaching money and banking at Pitt for the past 33 years. Early this term, he almost disrupted his long term by sustaining an elongated dose of pneumonia. Students can still enjoy his classes though. The professor couldn’t stay ill in the face of that myriad of invitations to get well. Montfort Jones isn't too fond of fickle young women, it is rumored—probably because he’s on the inside of the money game and knows what trouble the “young things can cause in the financial world. There is one other personality trait which must have grown out of the professor’s knowledge of money: he loves farm life. With food prices streaking upward, Professor Jones has changed the old slogan to “How can you keep 'em AWAY from the farm. Just call him “pop. To everyone at Pitt that name denotes just one person— Theodore W. Finney, head of the music appreciation department. Being a department head is no sinecure. In Music apprcc. it means teaching several sections each day in addition to administrative chores. Even with that double burden. Pop Finney finds time for extra-curricular activities. Since his arrival here in 1936. he has handled, at one time or another, the band, orchestra, glee club, and the chapel choir, which he still directs. Sandwiched in among all this, he has composed five anthems based on the chapel windows. Spare time? Oh, yes, ns a hobby, Pop writes books about music. Members of the choir can tell you that lie’s one of those rarities, a real artist with deep sensitivity and an even temper. The richness of their singing is a tribute to his skill as a conductor. Dr. Finney WHEN A man WHO has FOUGHT in both World Wars, engaged in successful business ventures in a dozen states, and is currently the owner of a large wholesale concern, declares that he teaches because he likes to teach, it really sounds convincing. Such is the case with Dr. Theodore Parker, popular history professor who is best remembered for his virile philosophy of “Life is to live, kids, so let’s make the most of it.” A veteran of the Canadian and American expedi-tionary forces in 1917-18, Dr. Parker attended Pitt in 1920 and became a professor in 1934. Having served 34 months overseas as an executive officer and deputy historian of the Eighth air force in World War II. Dr. Parker returned in 1945 to his favorite job—teaching. Despite the swollen enrollment, accentuated by the popularity of this wide awake prof, Dr. and Mrs. Parker hold their traditional open house for students every semester at their Iowa street home. The freshman who first enters Dr. Isaacs’ Economics 3 class may be over-awed at the size of the room, the weight of the textbook, and the number of students, but any fears he may have for a boring three hours a week arc usually wiped out the first day. For in addition to being an authority on economic matters, author of a new advanced text. International Trade, and secretary of the department of Economics, Dr. Isaacs is endowed with a versatile sense of humor. His “lectures delivered in mock seriousness, on subjects such as the proper method of finagling a higher grade from an experienced professor or how to subtly insult the Registrar’s Office” send students into spasms of laughter. Capable of brightening the most academic topic with humorous anecdotes without losing the significance of the material covered, Dr. Isaacs makes his classes enjoyable as well as instructive. Dr. Isaacs Dr. Parker 22

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b Continue your interest and enthusiasm for your Alma Mater by becoming active in The General Alumni Association. It is the University’s contact with you and Your contact with the University. All good Pitt alumni contribute to the Alumni Giving Fund. Don’t let a year pass without having your name listed among the givers. “ is the popular thing for college graduates to contribute to their Alma Mater. 1917-18 Officers President. Howard G. Ziegler 1st Vice-President. Marcus A. Foi.i.ansbee Treasurer, Walter J. Rome 2nd Vice-President. Pm up K. Herh Secretary, J. Clyde Rarton 24