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Dr. Robert B. Gaither — in his own wordsChairman of Mechanical Engineering, University of Florida 1965-1992as told to Patricia Gaither, daughter“With a PhD in Physics and Mechanical Engineering from the Universityof Illinois, I headed to teach rocket engine design and plasma physics insouth Florida’s West Palm Beach area near Pratt & Whitney. At thattime, there was no on e in Florida who could help NASA reach the goalof landing a man on the moon within the decade. Two years later, I endedup in the middle of the state, at the University of Florida in Gainesville, asChairman of the Mechanical Engineering Department.When I arrived at the University of Florida, all engineering was housed inone building, across from the stadium. There were also a few offices dispersedacross the campus, I believe. Of about five or six faculty, only one understoodthe concepts of plasma physics, Dr. Erich Farber. Dr. Farber, a premiersolar energy expert, was one of several key individuals helping me shape thedepartment with an eye toward aerospace and new mechanical engineeringapplications. There was no PhD program. I hired in Dick Irey and DougHseih, whose doctoral specialties were machine design, fluid mechanics, andheat transfer, to develop one. We ended up with several students winningmedals from NASA.We had some great people. Dr. Vernon Roan was one of the smartest guysaround. He got his Master’s in ME from the University of Florida, and wentto Illinois to get his PhD in Aerospace before he came back to us to teach.Benton Hall and Annex circa 191812
Roan was also known for building one ofthe first electric buses. There were manyothers who contributed to the excellence ofthe department. Everyone appreciated thebeautiful and accurate glassblowing skillsof Ed Logsdon in the lab, for example. Irecall Alex Green, who (still) contributesto research in alternative applicationsof coal technology, Hal Ingman inthermodynamics and fluid mechanics(and athlete who helped us facultyimmeasurably in the student-facultygames), and Jacunski in graphics. The firstperson to get his PhD in our programwas Ken Soderstrom, a visiting professorfrom the University of Puerto Rico. I alsoremember Linda Volpi, and outstandingmechanical engineer at a time when therewere few women in engineering.After a time, we moved into a muchneedednew building. The last half of thecentury was an amazing time. We hadengineering fairs that began in the earlydays with students inside foil-coveredcardboard boxes pretending to be robots,and ended up with plasma experiments,turbine engine designs, lasers, andreal robotics. We linked up with otherdepartments to take advantage of growingsynergies in industry. As we realized theimportance of the interconnectednessof the various engineering disciplines,we reached out to other groups andincluded emphasis on newer applicationssuch as biomechanical engineering andceramic materials design. Dr. BettyAbbot, also with the University, althoughnot in the ME department) joined mein promoting and partnering with theFlorida Foundation for Future Scientists,an organization formed by the state ofFlorida to encourage careers in science andengineering.I am grateful to each and every one of thepeople who contributed to making ourMechanical Engineering Department aworld-class institution. One of the thingsthat meant most to me over the years wasthe strong loyalty and dedication of thefaculty and administrative personnel to theUniversity and to our department goals offostering an equitable balance of educationand research.“Benton Hall looking north with Peabody Hall in the backgroundBob Gaither and graduate student Charles W. Greene (PhD 1968)13
Page 3 and 4: Feature Story121.Dean Cammy Abernat
Page 6 and 7: Faculty NewsProfessor John Schuelle
Page 8 and 9: Photo by NASASTS-129 Astronauts on
Page 10 and 11: Student NewsPersonnel from the Mach
Page 14: 2009-2010 MAE Outstanding Alumnus A

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