Water Resources: Hydraulics and Hydrology
Station, and we got along very well.
When the Committee on Tidal Hydraulics was established, he was appointed to that
committee right from the beginning. Clarence Wicker of the Philadelphia District was
elected chairman, but when Clarence retired, Joe was then elected chairman. He was
chairman from `61 to `69, and he was a good chairman.
Was there anything else you wanted to discuss concerning WES?
A:
You asked me several times what did I think about WES. I have a letter that I wrote to
WES after I was invited to their 50th Anniversary. The invitation is dated `79 and signed
by Colonel Cannon, Commander and Director.
Twelve years ago. This was shortly after I retired from the Corps. I wrote, "Thank you
for the invitation to attend the station's 50th anniversary. I regret that I shall not be able
to attend. I arrived at the station fresh out of the university in July of 1935 when the
station was barely five years old. It was small then, and the Engineers were just getting
their feet wet in hydraulic models and soils testing. The station has grown tremendously
with expansion of its research and engineering investigations in many engineering fields.
It is now regarded perhaps as the world's leading research institution.
This is a great tribute to the many outstanding directors, staff and employees who have
contributed so much to the development of the station's capability. I am proud to have had
a small part in advancing the station's technical capability in hydraulic engineering in 32
years of service in the Office, Chief of Engineers. My association with the station's
people have always been most cordial and rewarding. Sincerely
Since you asked me what I thought about the station, I am pleased to have the above
recorded.
Q ..
Now, I know that you weren't at WES when Herb Vogel was there.
A:
That's right. Falkner was there. Vogel--I forget when he left--but I think it was a couple
of years after Vogel left. First Lt. Falkner; Francis Falkner, was the director when I came
there in 1935, July of 1935. He came from California, and hated Vicksburg. He always
said, "Boy, anybody who comes to this God-forsaken place deserves a raise right now.
That's when I went in to his office when I first arrived. He said he'd raise me .
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