Worcester Polytechnic Institute - Peddler Yearbook (Worcester, MA)

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ZELOTES WOOD COOMBS “Coombsie” A A i I B K Professor of English, and Secretary of the Faculty A. B., Amherst, 1888, and A. M., 1895; Instructor in English, Brooklyn Polytechnic Institute, 1888-89; Univ. of Virginia, 1889-90; Clerk and Assistant in Languages, W. P. I., 1891-92; Instructor in Modern Languages, 1892-95; Assistant Professor, 1895-1901; Professor of French, 1901-03; Modern Languages, 1903-13; Secretary of the Faculty, 1910-; Professor of English, 1913- If it is true that all good things should be saved until the last, we had Prof. Coombs at the wrong end of our course, for we saw little of him during our last two years. Prof. Coombs is a personal friend of every Tech man, for he never forgets one. His re¬ markable memory for faces and names, his pen¬ cil insistently tapping a chair arm during an exciting debate, his reviewing of the grammatical errors of the week, these are memories that call to mind a man with whom it is a pleasure and a privilege to have been associated. HAROLD BABBITT SMITH “ . R.” B @ n 2 = Professor of Electrical Engineering M. E., Cornell, 1891; Adjunct Professor of Electrical Engineering, Arkansas State Univ., 1892-93; Professor of Electrical Engineering, Purdue, 1893-96; W. P. L, 1896- In Prof. Smith we find a teacher who is looked up to by every student under him as a man for whom one can hold only the greatest esteem. Under him the Department of Electri¬ cal Engineering at the Institute has grown rap¬ idly, until now it holds a position second to none in the field of instruction in the principles of Electrical Engineering. Prof. Smith is a teacher who takes a big in¬ terest in the progress of his students, and his encouragement, when we failed to grasp the meanings of his formulae in Design, was the saving of many of us. “H. B.” is an authority on electrical subjects, and at present is giving over half of his time to important Government work. Page 15

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GEORGE HENRY HAYNES Jinny ’ AKE $BK 2H Professor of Economics and Political Science A. B., Amherst, 1887; Ph. D., Johns Hopkins, 1893; Instructor in Modern Languages, W. P. I., 1887-88; Matheiriatics, 1888-89; Modem Languages, 1889-90; Professor of Economics and Political Science, 1893- We remember “Jinny” as the broadest-minded man on the Hill, and as one who made interest¬ ing to the extreme a subject which many of us came to him prepared to dislike. But for “Jinny,” some of us might never have devel¬ oped an interest in the vital affairs of the world. Prof. Haynes’ direct influence on our educa¬ tions did not cease with his courses. For who has not gone hack many times to Room 19 to look at the most popular bulletin board on the Hill, and found the lack of “Jinny’s” comment on the material to rob it of half its value? WALTER LOUIS JENNINGS “Pussyfoot” Professor of Organic Chemistry A. B., Harvard, 1889; A. M., 1890, and Ph. D., 1892; Assistant in Chemistry, Harvard, 1890-92; Parker Fel¬ low at University of Berlin, 1893-94; Assistant Professor of Chemisti ' y, W. P. L, 1894-99; Professor of Organic Chemistry, 1900- Memories can bridge the widest space of time, and no matter how old we may live to be, we shall never forget this soft-spoken disci¬ ple of Emil Fischer. We realize only too well that he has sacrificed many an opportunity for outside work in order that he might devote his entire attention to our progress, and we are united in our gratitude. Momentarily we may have rebelled at the Kaiser’s precise methods, but we hope that many future classes may re¬ ceive the benefit of a system so well grounded in thoroughness as his. Page 14

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ALEXANDER WILMER DUFF “A. Wtimer ’ $ 2 K 2 H Professor of Physics B. A., Univ. of New Brunswick, 1884, and Univ. of London, 1887; M. A., Univ. of Edinburgh, 1888, B. Sc., 1892, and D. Sc., 1901; Professor of Physics, Univ. of Madras, 1889-90; Univ. of New Brunswick, 1890-93; Purdue, 1893-99; W. P. I., 1899- The name of Prof. Duff is indeed well known in the world of Science, and W. P. I. is proud to have him as the head of its Physics Depart¬ ment. Many of us have met him in the class¬ room; all of us have profited by his lectures, at which his able assistant never forgot to take the attendance. Dr. Duff has been granted a leave of absence that he might go to Washington where he is doing research work for the Government on air resistance. He declined the commission offered him, believing that he could do more efficient work as a civilian. His service is sure to be a valuable one. ARTHUR WILLARD FRENCH “Pa” 2E Professor of Civil Engineering C. E., Dartmouth, 1892; Associate Professor of Civil Engineering, Dartmouth, 1895-98; Professor, W. P. I., 1899- Recitation with “Pa” is simply a series of personal exploits. Every lesson is covered by a special experience all its own, each taken from “my first job,” which job was certainly a wonder. “Pa” is disproof enough of his own theory that “a lazy man makes the best engi¬ neer,” for many are the hours of hard work spent in his office ov er difficult problems. Still, every possible afternoon, he and “Joe” leave for the back-woods of Sterling where they are experimenting in co-operative farming; and here “Pa” can smoke that old corncob in peace. Much though we may curse at his problems, “Pa’s” teaching suits us all, and 10% of his personal experiences properly applied will insure our success as engineers. Page 16