1953–54 Volume 78 No 1–5 - Phi Delta Theta Scroll Archive

Penn State Honors
Retiring Phi Dean
DEAN EDWARD STElDLE DEVELOPED
THE MINERAL INDUSTRIES SCHOOL
A
long and most noteworthy deanship
came to an end on June 30 when Dr.
Edward Steidle, Penn State '11, retired as
dean of the School of Mineral Industries at
Pennsylvania State College after 25 years of
service. During this quarter century of inspiring
leadership he saw the Mineral Industries
School grow from approximately
150 to 500 undergraduates, from a wooden
frame building to two modern four story
buildings.
To commemorate the occasion and to
honor Dean Steidle, 270 alumni, faculty,
students, and members of government and
industry attended a banquet at the Nittany
Lion Inn on May 2. At that time, the M. I.
School alumni presented to the College a
portrait of Dean Steidle which will be hung
in the main lobby of the Mineral Industries
Building. The undergraduates of the School
also gave the dean a wrist watch and scroll
of appreciation.
Always an active Phi, Brother Steidle
served as Adviser to Pennsylvania Theta
chapter of $ A 0 for many years. Until his
retirement he was also a regular attendant
at weekly alumni luncheons. Two sons followed
him in signing the Bond of Penn
Theta: Edward and Howard.
Dean Steidle was born in Williamsport
on June 23, 1887. He was graduated from
the Williamsport High School in 1907, received
the bachelor of science degree in
mining engineering from Penn State in
1911, and the engineer of mines degree in
1914. He also received an honorary degree
of doctor of science from Alfred University
in 1943.
Dean Steidle was with the U. S. Bureau
of Mines from 1912 to 1917. During this
period, he progressed from foreman miner
to mining engineer in charge of a district
and worked in the Lake Superior region, the
[>79]
DR. EDWARD STEIDLE, Penn State '11
Pictured in front of main building of School of
Mineral Industries at Penn State. The retiring Phi
Dean is largely responsible for the development of
this fine school.
Utah-Nevada-California district, and the
Appalachian region. His duties covered a
wide range of activities including metal
mining investigations, mine rescue operations,
research, and the making of the first
movie ever filmed in a coal mine.
From 1917 to 1919, Dean Steidle served
with the Armed Forces as First Lieutenant,
30th Engineers, attached to the Royal Engineers,
British Expeditionary Forces. He then
became Captain Company D and finally
Commanding Officer, First Battalion, First
Gas Regiment. He was twice wounded in
action, received the Victory Medal with six
batde clasps, the Pershing Citation certificate,
and the Purple Heart with oak leaf
cluster.
After the war. Dean Steidle joined the
staff of Carnegie Institute of Technology as