Class Notes

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1930s

HERBERT CROWLE (B.S. 1936 CE)

of San Lorenzo, California, retired from a 13-year position on the Oro Loma Sanitary District Board of Directors and moved to San Diego to be near his daughters. Appointed assistant professor of civil engineering at age 21, Crowle says he was the youngest person to become a full-time Berkeley faculty member. He was Alameda County's first public works director and, at age 91, he just scored 100 percent on his driver's license test.

Linwood L. Clark (B.S. 1930 CEE)

worked for the U.S. Bureau of Public Roads and the U.S. Air Corps. He was officer of the day at McClellan Field and was recalled in 1951. He retired in 1968 and lives in Pleasanton, California. He writes, "I am 95-plus years old. I married my college sweetheart, Katherine Isabel Hermann, class of 1931, on Feb. 12, 1935, and although she passed away Sept. 18, 2001, in my mind she is still my beloved wife and will be for eternity. We had a very excellent marriage."

Percy Dawson (B.S. 1935 ME)

of Walnut Creek works as a consulting mechanical engineer and hydraulic turbine designer.

Walter Fraser (B.S. 1936 EE)

of El Cajon, Calif., sold his home and will move into a new senior housing complex. He is still playing golf and reports: "Even shoot my age when the putts are dropping ." He is a retired captain in the U.S. Navy.

Homer M. Fuller (B.S. 1936 ME)

of West Lake Village, Calif., was issued U.S. Patent No. 6,289,995 B1 in September 2001 for a rough-terrain, large-water volume fire-fighting vehicle. He is looking for an organization to sponsor its development. E-mail:

WOLFGANG GABOR (B.S. 1939 ME)

writes that he celebrated his 90th birthday last year in May. He is still a registered mechanical engineer in the State of California, doing consulting work for "anyone who will hire an old guy like me. I have a wonderful wife, married 67 years!"

Virginia Jane (VJ) Harris (MS 1938 Chemistry)

Passed away July 30th, 2007 in Placerville, CA. Led a full life, active in Sierra Club for over 50 years. Political activist. 1 son, 7 grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren.

George Hill (B.S. 1937 CE)

about once a month at the SIRS Club meeting in Auburn, Calif.

OTTO P. MORGENSEN JR. (B.S. 1933 ME)

of Kettering, Ohio, writes, "I am an ‘old man,' 103 years old in April."

Willard Knupp (B.S. 1938 ME)

of Oakland went to workfor Standard Oil Co. of California the Monday after he graduatedand worked for them or one of their subsidiaries for 42 years.

ALFRED A. LINGO (B.S. 1938 EECS)

is retired and lives in Stockton, California. He worked as a steam division manager for Southern California Edison. His great-granddaughter attends UC Davis.

HARVEY LUDWIG (B.S. 1938, M.S. 1942 CEE)

a 1999 recipient of the Distinguished Engineering Alumni Award (now the BEIA), started Engineering-Science, Inc., in 1956 in Arcadia and Oakland, California. He says the company was the first of its kind to make the transition from small firm to national and international organization in the mid 1960s; it eventually became part of Parsons. Ludwig remained an active consultant until 2007, working from Bangkok, Thailand, where he’s lived since 1973.

Thomas A. Long (B.S. 1939 CE)

died Oct. 16 at home in Hayward, Calif. A memorial was held Nov. 12 at First Presbyterian Church. He is survived by his wife, Velvia, a 1937 Cal graduate, and his children.

Frank Lord (B.S. 1930 EE)

of Redding writes, "As a 96-year-old retiree, I'm coasting along."

Lee Mohler (B.S. 1938 ME)

of Costa Mesa, California, writes, "I'm 90 years old. My formula for a happy long life: Marry a lover. Stay mentally, physically, and spiritually active. Engage in life. Participate."

JOHN L. PEARSON (B.S. 1938 CE)

of San Leandro, California, was the most senior alumnus at last spring’s True Blues Luncheon at the Faculty Club, honoring engineering alumni of the Class of 1959 and earlier. Employed by the California Public Utilities Commission and Department of Transportation, Pearson worked for six years on the Key System, the public transit system that once connected East Bay cities with San Francisco by means of a light rail on the lower deck of the Bay Bridge. Now retired, he has a son and a granddaughter who are also engineers.

John L. Pearson (B.S. 1938 CE)

of San Leandro, California, retired in 1978 as principal transportation engineer with the California Public Utilities Commission and is involved in various volunteer services. His wife, Elrose Pearson, class of 1938, passed away.

Harry C. Rowe (B.S. 1931 CEE)

is enjoying retirement in Santa Rosa.

PAUL C. SHERIDAN (B.S. 1930 CEE)

of Sacramento writes, “At 99 years, I’m still bowling and playing bridge. My doctor says she has nine patients over age 90, and I’m the oldest and healthiest.”

Paul Sheridan (B.S. 1930 CEE)

of Sacramento writes, "I'm 93 and still bowl. I direct a duplicate bridge game every Monday at a senior center and am active in Alzheimer caregiver support groups."

John Stoddard (B.S. 1937 ME)

of Belmont died at age 89 last November. Born in San Francisco , he went to work for Lockheed in 1940. During World War II he redesigned the maintenance manual for the P-38 Lightning Fighter with color-coded breakaway drawings and overlays, which set a standard for Air Force and future aircraft manuals. After the war, he traveled worldwide supporting the Constellation airliner and C-130 cargo plane. He is survived by his wife of 58 years, Mary, two sons, and several grandchildren and great grandchildren.

JOHN ROY WHINNERY (B.S. 1937, Ph.D. 1948)

professor emeritus and innovator in electromagnetism and communication electronics, died last February at his home in Walnut Creek, California. He was 92. In 1944, he co-authored the pioneering text Fields and Waves in Modern Radio, still used today. He served as director of the Electronics Research Laboratory as well as UC Berkeley chair of electrical engineering and dean of engineering. He was named University Professor, earned the National Medal of Science and was elected to the National Academy of Sciences and the National Academy of Engineering.

Hubert G. Wolff (B.S. 1939 EE)

retired in 1971 from the U.S. Navy Electronics Lab in San Diego and has been working for San Diego County ever since. He retired as a lieutenant colonel in the U.S. Air Force in 1976 and is now an honorary special assistant to the San Diego County Sheriff.

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