McMurry Physics

Dr. Virgil BottomYears of service

1958-1973

A.B., Friends University, 1931M.S., University of Michigan,

1938Ph.D., Purdue University,

1949

McMurry SPS Chapter

McMurry SPS Chapter

Jerald Lee -Physics 1961 Dr. Bottom was the only physics teacher at my

time in McMurry. Living at home in Abilene, I had access to shop tools to create laboratory equipment. Some of the things that I built were a thick plate that interfaces a vacuum pump to a bell jar, a spectrometer with a curved film holder, protective cases for Variacs, etc.

Things that stand out in my memory were the crystal clock that was two relay racks wide, the patent that Dr. Bottom had on the diamond shaped base for power transistors (still used today), measurement of antenna impedance, and the ballistic pendulum for a 22 caliber rifle shot. The course work always seemed to be of high caliber for having been taught by only one person.

Roger Ward-Physics 1967 Shortly after Dr. Bottom joined McMurry College he started week-

end non-curricular classes in quartz technology for any of his physics students who desired to attend the three-hour sessions. To encourage them, James-Knights, Inc., of Sandwich, IL (which later became CTS-Knights), donated funds to allow Dr. Bottom to pay the students $1.00 per hour of classwork. In addition, Knights, Hewlett Packard, Bell Labs, and others provided excess or out-dated equipment and materials for the quartz lab (originally in the old science “quadrangle” behind Old Main) where the students acquired hands-on experience making and testing their first functional quartz resonator.

There was a huge demand for these students, both for summer jobs between semesters at McMurry, and for permanent positions for the graduating seniors. As a result, by 1962 Dr. Bottom had placed numerous McM-trained quartz engineers at quartz manufacturing facilities throughout the USA. These included Charles Adams at Hewlett-Packard (now Agilent), Canon Bradley at McCoy, Jerry Leach at James-Knights (Jerry later joined HP), and Kelly Scott at Crystal Systems, to name a few.

Dr. Leroy Humphries Years of Service

1971-

B.A. Hardin-Simmons University, 1964

M.S. Sam Houston State University, 1966

Ph.D. University of Arkansas, 1972

Dr. A.C. SharpYears of Service

1965-1999

B.S., M.S., Texas A&I University,

Ph.D. Texas A&M University

David Adamson- Physics 1989

Regarding Dr. Sharp, he was the most influential professor in my academic career. Through his skilled teaching, patience, and God’s presence in his life he provided me with an outstanding understanding of Physics. He taught me the ability to visualize the physics taking place before applying the math to that visualization of nature. He always was willing to offer courses that I was the only one taking, sit down with me and help me past the hurdles of getting an education in physics. He made me a better person from day one and his presence still aids me as I pass through the phases of my life with my family.

Modern Years

McMurry SPS

McM Physics Today

McM Physics Today