Spencer Heath Archive

Item 1727

Penned text for speech of appreciation at the end of the academic year at Harvey Mudd College of Science & Engineering, Claremont, California, where Heath was a guest of President Joseph B. Platt for the year as (Dr. Platt’s term) “Octogenarian in Residence.”

June, 1961?

     The College year now coming to an end, it is good for me once more to express my gratitude to Dr. Platt for the privilege of residing among you for a time and making such friendly and perhaps helpful contacts as the circumstances and my own talents might bring about.

     If my being among you has been of any value or inspiration to others, as it has been to me, I can only wish that through closer contacts in your various activities it could have been a thousand-fold more.

     In the Department of Physics, however — which is to me the most fundamental of all the objective sciences — through the kindness, especially of Dr. Focke and Dr. Bell, I have learned much concerning the current research, and have been happy to provide means for the purchase of some particular apparatus shortly to be required and not otherwise provided for. My own belief in the importance of determining ultimate physical units makes me especially happy to do this.

     Beyond and in addition to Harvey Mudd College I have found the City of Claremont, with its five Associated Colleges, perhaps the most attractive environment I have ever enjoyed.

     Again my thanks to Dr. Platt for inviting me here.