Worcester Polytechnic Institute - Peddler Yearbook (Worcester, MA)

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’ he. P€DDL€R 1932 HARRY PHILLIPS DAVIS, ’90 The death of Dr. Harry P. Davis, on September 10, 1931, removed from the electrical ind ustry one of its most distinguished contributors and from the Worcester Polytechnic Institute one of its most illustrious sons. Practically the entire span of the forty-one years since his graduation from W. P. I. was spent in the service of the Westinghouse Electric Manufactur¬ ing Co. He rose from a humble position in the detail engineering department to the post of vice-president and director. To his manifold duties with that great organization he added a host of other services, and performed them all with the indomitable energy which early marked him for success. To all the world he was known as the “Father of Broadcasting,’’ for it was he who first saw the vision of transmitting programs for entertainment and com¬ mercial purposes. He became chairman of the board of directors of the Na¬ tional Broadcasting Company when it was founded and held that post up to the time of his death. Harry P. Davis was born at Somersworth, N. H., on July 31, 1868. He prepared for W. P. I. at the Worcester high school and entered with the class of 1890, graduating from the course in mechanical engineering. After grad¬ uation he took a trip to Europe, returning tp the Institute as assistant in physics, earning an additional degree in electrical engineering. Five years after going to East Pittsburgh, Mr. Davis was placed in charge of the detail engineering department. He became manager of the engineering department in 1904, and vice-president in charge of manufacturing and en¬ gineering in 1911. Dr. Davis and Dr. Frank Conrad, assistant chief engineer of the company, opened the first radio broadcasting studio, station KDKA, at Pittsburgh in 1919. The results of the presidential election of 1920 were sent out over this station, and the entire field of broadcasting developed from it. Dr. Davis was also a pioneer i n the field of television. In 1928 he was present when moving pictures were first transmitted through the air from the West¬ inghouse laboratory and predicted that the commercial transmission of pic¬ tures would soon be practical. He was the first to demonstrate the use of the photo-electric cell, or “electric eye,’’ in February 1930, operating an automo¬ bile in New York by giving it commands over the telephone from Pitts¬ burgh. On June 29, 1892, Dr. Davis married Miss Agnes F. Taylor of Worcester. Mrs. Davis, a daughter, Mrs. Fouise D. Rockwell, and a son, Harry Ransom Davis, survive. In his service to his college Dr. Davis was always generous whether the call was for time or financial assistance. He was elected a trustee in 1920, when alumni term membership of the board was inaugurated. His term ex¬ tended until 1924. Last February he was nominated for a second term ex¬ tending to 1936. At the Commencement of 1930 he was awarded the honorary degree of engineering. Last May he went to the Mayo clinic at Rochester, Minn., for what .proved to be a very serious operation. He re¬ covered sufficiently to return to his home in July but his strength was not suffiicient to overcome the strain of the operation. Page nine

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P€ DL€R 1932 Page eight t

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P€DDLeR 1932 THE STAFF Editor-in-Chief Lenges H. Bull Business Manager John W. Greene Associate Editor Sidney ThunE Junior Editors Edward K. Allen Guy a. Cummings, Jr. Emil C. Ostlund Richard F. Porter Alton B. Wyman Photographic Staff Howard A. Ofeers Theodore L. Fish John C. L. Shabeck, Jr. Arf Staff John R. Tinker Elliot D. Jones Junior Managers Waldo E. Bass Gilbert U. Gustafson Advertising Staff Linn M. Lockwood