Worcester Polytechnic Institute - Peddler Yearbook (Worcester, MA)

Page 32 text:

A. WILMER DUFF • i i n ! II I II I II I II 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; L.L.D., Univ. of New Brunswick, 1920; Professor of Physics, Univ. of Madras, 1889-90; Univ. of New Brunswick, 1890- 93; Purdue, 1893-99; W. P. I., 1899; Sigma Xi, Phi Sigma Kappa. When we think of Dr. Duff, we remember peculiar little cough that had a habit of occurr¬ ing frequently during Sophomore physics lec¬ tures. Yet he is famous for other things too; until recently he was known as editor and part author of a very well known physics textbook. This did not suffice for him however, so now he has written one all by himself. As to the suc¬ cess of this new volume—it cannot help but outdo the old, and that was no joke as we all know. The Physics Department has indeed an able leader in Dr. Duff. ARTHUR WIFFARD FRENCH C.E., Dartmouth, 1892; Associate Professor of Civil Engineering, 1895-98; Professor, W. P. I., 1899; Sigma Xi, Tau Beta Pi. One of the few dignified members of the faculty who smokes a real “corn-cob” is “Pa”. Not until the last two years did we really learn to know him. A real Engineer is he, and a fine teacher, always striving to make the course mean more to the student. It is one of his rules that he never assigns any problem that he does not do himself, and this always afforded us some consolation as we oiled our “slip- sticks” after hours of calculation and deep men¬ tal exertion. Seriously, however, we owe “Pa” our sin- cerest gratitude for his earnest efforts in our behalf. Page twenty-eight ± 92,6

Page 31 text:

ZELOTES WOOD COOMBS 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., 1890-92; Instructor in Modern Languages, 1892-95; Assistant Professor, 1895-1901; Professor of French, 1901-03; English and Modern Languages, 1903-13; Secretary of the Faculty, 1910; Professor of English, 1913; Phi Beta Kappa, Alpha Delta Phi. “When I have tapped three times on the arm—” will we ever forget those nerve rack¬ ing days when we debated against the demon rum or attempted to show why capital punish¬ ment was all wrong? And will we ever forget “Coombsie” the day “Those fifteen noble young men went in pursuit of the drama?” Where are they now? In prison? Please forgive us for our misdeeds, Prof. Coombs—we did our best. “ Coombsie ” HAROLD BABBITT SMITH M.E., Cornell 1891; Adjunct Professor of Electrical Engineering, Arkansas State Univ., 1892-93; Pro¬ fessor, Purdue, 1893-96; W. P. I., 1896; Sigma Xi, Tau Beta Pi, Beta Theta Pi. With the electrics “H. B.” became a pass¬ word months before we had the pleasure of meeting him in class, for his various exploits were constantly foisted upon us by hero- worshiping upper classmen. In Abstracts we had little opportunity to better our acquain¬ tance with him for obvious reasons, though we must confess that the fault was ours. In De¬ sign the situation changed, and in our attempts to learn what it was all about we were obliged to take advantage of his presence. An impres¬ sive combination of the teacher and the prac¬ tical expert, “H. B.” will always stand out in our minds as one of the pleasantest of our many enjoyable associations. Page twenty-seven 1 926

Page 33 text:

I » II ll PERCY ROBERT CARPENTER A.B., Harvard, 1907; Hitchcock Fellow, Amherst, 1906-09; Assistant Dean, 1908-10; Instructor in Physical Education, 1909-10; Assistant Professor, 1910-11; Associate Professor, 1911-16; Professor of Physical Education, W. P. I., 1916; Sigma Alpha Epsilon. A dynamic individual, possessed of abound¬ ing zeal and vigor, characterizes “Doc” Car¬ penter. In a great measure the success of ath¬ letics on the hill may be attributed to his initia¬ tive. Supervising athletics and planning inter¬ scholastic and intercollegiate sport meets is his vocation. His avocation, we are told, is performing stunts on the parallel bars. As freshmen, we were perhaps brought into more intimate contact with him than with any other professor on the hill. The shrill whistle, knickers, and cap, symbolic of his love for sport, will always be remembered when physi¬ cal training and athletics at Tech are consid¬ ered. “Doc 99 “Dor 99 RAYMOND KURTZ MORLEY A.B., and A.M., Tufts, 1904; Ph.D., Clark, 1910; Instructor in Mathematics, Univ. of Me., 1904-07; W. P. I„ 1910-11; Univ. of Ill, 1911-12; Assistant Professor, W. P. I, 1912-17; Professor, 1917-21; John E. Sinclair Professor, 1921; Sigma Xi, Phi Beta Kappa. It has been rumored that “Doc” Morley is a candidate for a forward berth on the faculty basketball team. If so he seems to be well as¬ sured of this position, owing to practice with the chalk and waste basket in Room E.E. No. 1. Seriously, however, “Doc’s” ability in clear¬ ing up difficult points in the advanced math courses is recognized by all. His dry humor does much to maintain interest in the courses which are the fundamentals of engineering. We shall always remember “Doc” as an able teacher in the classroom, and a loyal supporter of all activities on the Hill. Page twenty-nine 1 926