The First 70 Years - A History of the University of Oklahoma College of Engineering

Page 172

The Age of Computers Begins 161

dance, Otis Gallas, PE, Kermit, TX was revealed as the new St. Pat for 1954. He assisted Queen Susie in the knighting of 25 new Knights of St. Pat. at the banquet, which followed on Saturday night, with approximately 50 in attendance. At each place there was a bag of favors, sent by various companies, who had responded to a letter written by Dorothy Clay, Dean Carson’s Assistant. In the March 1954 issue of the Sooner Shamrock, Jim Curran, EE, Shawnee; Jim Loomer, ChE, and Jon Withrow, PE were listed as the Men of Might. Those listed in the May issue were, Mary Nell Applegate, EE, Sao Paulo, Brazil; Bill Kennedy, ME, Norman, and Jack Harmon, PE, Bradford, PA. The annual open house and Engineers’ Show were held April 23 and 24, 1954. The Petroleum Engineers won first place with 24 exhibits showing the four phases of “Oil from Exploration to the Gas Station.” Chemical Engineering won second with their model refinery, atomic power plant, and model railroad. The EEs won third with a robot seeking light, an electronic puppy obeying spoken commands, and other exhibits. On Saturday, a special ceremony was held and Dorothy Clay was made honorary Engineers’ Queen, and given one of the green shirts, which had become emblematic of the Engineering College. Dorothy was always helpful. As custodian of student records for the College, she provided graduation checks for the students and much more by helping with advice on job interviews, judging beard contests, and in being and all-round friend of the students. The Show on Saturday night featured 16 acts, including can-can dancers and a magician. Two performances were required to meet the demand for tickets. In September 1954, four blasts from “Old Trusty” announced the first Engineers’ Club meeting of the year. The College of Engineering enrollment was given as 2,252 including only 13 women. The Men of Might in the October issue of the Sooner Shamrock were Bill Guffy, PE; Larry Swanson, IME; Ed Ligon, IME; and Hoyle Lockett, CE. The Engineering week celebration for 1955 began February 15 with the start of the second annual beard contest. Prizes were provided by 12 Norman businesses. In March, Jenny Lou Grimmett was chosen from a field of four contestants as the Queen. She was an education major from Houston, TX and a member of the Pi Beta Phi sorority. Keith Farris, a PE senior from Lethbridge, Canada, was elected as St. Pat. The Engineers’ dance was held in the Union Ballroom on Friday night, March 18, 1955, followed by the banquet on Saturday night. Professor Joe Keeley was the master of ceremonies and the principal speaker was Mr. E.H. (Eddie) Chiles, President of the Western Company. A BSPE


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