From the Archives

EYE OF THE TIGER

Behind the Scenes

For 43 years, Kent Peterson ’99 documented and shared MSOE’s most memorable moments. His journey at MSOE began as a photographer but saw him take on positions of increased responsibility, including as the university’s photographer, videographer, director of academic media services, and first webmaster. His career offered him a front row seat to the university’s history, and spanned three university presidents before he retired as manager of video and multimedia in March 2021. We sat down with Peterson to find out what moments really stood out as highlights—and to get a first-hand account of what happened behind the scenes.

Working with MSOE President Robert Spitzer

“I got to know Dr. Spitzer pretty well over the years. He loved talking to outside groups and community organizations. I created a lot of the slides for his work and traveled with him to set up. Often, we put on a show that required 21 projectors. Spitzer was a mentor for me. I have to say that some of what I am today was because of him. He was very honest and upright. ”

In the early 1980s, MSOE held recognition dinners for faculty and staff in the Roy W. Johnson Residence Hall cafeteria. Spitzer wanted more people to attend. Peterson brainstormed an idea with Vice President Joe DeCarlo (another of his mentors), and decided to photograph every person on the job and create a three-projector slide show entitled, “A Day in the Life of MSOE.” The idea worked, and many more employees attended the dinners to see his production.

“Everyone who worked here was on screen. By 1986 or ’87 we got exceptionally ‘creative’ and designated ‘Eye of the Tiger’ as the theme song. We brought in a live tiger,” said Peterson. “When they brought the tiger on stage I remember thinking, ‘Wow, he is really close to the audience.’ Some folks in the front row were pretty terrified. The truth was, the tiger was pretty ancient. Any growling was out of sheer grumpiness. I remember being on stage with the tiger more than I remember the slide show.”

Dedication of the Walter Schroeder Library

In 1980, former U.S. President Gerald Ford, who was friends with Spitzer, dedicated MSOE’s Walter Schroeder Library. Peterson was there to document the occasion. What he remembers most, however, was his brush with the law.

“People who were going to be near the president had to be background checked by the Secret Service,” he said, “and there were Secret Service agents all over the place—even on the rooftops.”

After the event, the Secret Service provided a report to President Spitzer and MSOE’s vice presidents.

“I remember the report said, ‘This event was wonderful except for this one photographer who kept going into restricted areas.’ That was me,” laughed Peterson. “I thought, ‘This is my territory, I can go where I want.’ But I strayed a few times from their restricted zones. I didn’t get shot, or tackled. They nicely turned me around and pushed me in the right direction.”

Launching Distance Education

In the mid-1980s, the VCR was quickly becoming one of the most widely-used pieces of home entertainment technologies. Peterson helped MSOE take advantage of the technology to launch a distance education program. The university built a classroom fully equipped with the proper lighting and equipment to essentially produce a television program. Peterson took residence in the control room, running the one-man show.

“We recorded the lectures and discussions, and then ran off a batch of tapes overnight to send to students. We also handled phone calls from off-site students who wanted to participate in the discussion,” said Peterson. “The concept is the same as we’re doing today, the technology has just become more sophisticated.”

After sitting through all those courses, Peterson probably should have been awarded an engineering degree from MSOE. Instead, we hope he’ll settle for a 4.00 GPA for being the consummate professional and tremendous resource for MSOE for 43 years.

Kent Peterson was highlighted in the International Television Association Milwaukee Chapter newsletter for his work with MSOE distance learning.

Former Vice President Joe DeCarlo looks on as a live tiger toured campus before it made an appearance at a faculty and staff appreciation dinner in the mid-1980s.

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IN THE ZONE

Members of the Greendale (Wis.) High School FIRST Robotics team prepare to test their designs in the Rockwell Automation FIRST Robotics Competition Zone in the We Energies STEM Center at MSOE. The zone features a playing field for teams to practice on a regulation field before they compete.

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