A Biography of Dr. John M. Googin - Y-12 National Security ...

FYI
Two humorous (at least to me) incidents concerning Dr. John came to mind immediately.
The first occurred in 1961 when any absences were still scrutinized rather carefully, and vacation granted left much
to be desired. I had just become eligible for three weeks vacation and wanted to go to Europe. I felt like I needed more
time. John was at the time my department head, and I approached him on the subject. He commented, “Rules are made
to be broken or find exceptions to. Let’s see what we can do.”
Without consulting anyone, he told me to work ten Saturdays, and he would give me ten extra days. I did so; and
shortly before departing, I discovered I needed another part of a day to make proper plane connections in New York.
John solved this one by telling me to be sure the plane flew over the New York Public Library so he could simply say that
I had gone to the library.
All went well, but I understand that Timekeeping had trouble with those ten days for many months. I don’t know what
the outcome was.
The second amusing incident occurred when I was getting my MS. John and three UT professors comprised my
committee. The day came for my oral, and the three UT profs set in on me with many questions. John would chime in
once in a while. After just a few “chime ins”, the profs seemed to lose all interest in me and talked about an hour with
John while I sat in the corner away from the crowd, so to speak. With very little input at the oral on my part, they
decided my thesis was quite satisfactory and I received the MS. William L. Harper
When I was in Development in 9203 and Dr. Googin came by my office, he always stopped to chat for a minute or
two about his grandchildren and was always kind enough to ask about my children. I think that is one thing I will never
forget about him; he was very personable and never too busy to say hello. Mary Henley
I knew Dr. John M. Googin for nearly twenty-seven years. My memories of him are as an extremely smart, friendly
man, who genuinely cared about science and Y-12. I never saw him get mad. He never forgot anything, and gently
prodded researchers to put out their best. My wife and I were fortunate enough to have met him several times at
occasions outside of work.
Often, he had his camera and took many pictures — one trademark of his out-of-plant personality.
Dr. Googin was a mentor for me and many others. His jesting, “What have you done for me [Y-12] today?,” was
meant to spur you on. And, for me, it did. Once, to my wife’s surprise, he even used that line when I was looking at some
small computers at Service Merchandise.
One interesting thing he told at dinner was that, when he became engaged, he was regularly working with mercury,
so he had to ask for a wedding ring of platinum to avoid having the normal gold ring disappear as an amalgam.
His legacy to many of us is our drive to do our best and strive to pursue the unknowns in science. He will always be
remembered, and his memory may make us all be willing to state our case as he did (debate strongly) and not just
watch things go by. Cressie Holcombe
FYI 20