IN MEMORIAM
WALTER ELMER MILLETT
Walter E. Millett, age 86, died August 24, 2003, at Trinity Care
Center in San Antonio, Texas following a stroke.
He was born July 26, 1917, in East Moline, Illinois. He attended
Central High School in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, graduating in
1935; he enrolled at the University
of Florida where he received his B.S. (1940) and his M.S. (1942) in physics
and mathematics. He then spent three and a half years at the
prestigious MIT Radiation
Laboratory, where, during World War II, large-scale research at the “RadLab” was
devoted to the rapid development of microwave radar. Nearly half of the radar
deployed in World War II was designed in this lab. Walter worked at the RadLab
under the direction of Professor Ed Purcell (eventual Nobel Laureate) on
microwave antennas. The purpose of the work was to improve the resolution
of radar systems
by shifting from 10 cm to 3 cm and finally to 1.25 cm systems. Aircraft would
better accommodate the smaller antennas. Unfortunately, absorption due to
atmospheric humidity severely limited the 1.25 systems.
On May 29, 1944, Walter married Barbara Twigg in Dorchester, Massachusetts.
Following the war, he enrolled in graduate school at Harvard University in
physics. He
received his Ph.D. in 1949 under the supervision of Professor K.T. Bainbridge,
known for his mass spectrographs and precise test of the relation E=mc2.
Walter’s
thesis studied relativistic charged particle focusing in crossed electric and
magnetic fields. Following graduation, he accepted an Atomic Energy Commission
Postdoctoral Fellowship at Cal Tech under Professor W.R. Smythe, widely recognized
for his graduate text on electricity and magnetism. These work experiences shaped
Walter’s lifelong interest in electricity and magnetism. Leaving California,
he returned to the University of Florida as a lecturer (1950) and assistant
professor (1951).
In 1952, Walter joined The University of Texas physics department as an assistant
professor. At Texas, he conducted an active research program in positron annihilation,
supported by grants from the National Science Foundation. He was a pioneer in
the use of this technique to determine the momentum distributions of electrons
in both solids and liquids. It was at least a decade before his competitors were
able to match the quality of data he was able to obtain. In 1957, he was promoted
to associate professor. In the summer of 1960, Walter did positron annihilation
studies at the Niels Bohr Institute in Copenhagen, Denmark. He was promoted to
professor in 1962. He went on modified service in 1982 and was appointed professor
emeritus in 1987.
During his years at UT, Walter carried out a number of major revisions of undergraduate
physics laboratories. He taught a celebrated junior course in electricity and
magnetism in which students were required to provide part of the lectures. Many
students have testified to the wonderful in-class discussions and the intuition
and skills they developed in the class.
Walter’s research in positron annihilation produced over fourteen M.A.
and fifteen Ph.D. students. His relationship with his students continued long
after they were granted degrees. During the later part of his career, he shared
a laboratory with the late Professor Arthur Lockenvitz, and the two participated
in photon experiments. After his retirement, Walter continued working on a physics
problem that his family affectionately called his “yellow pages'' since
it was written on familiar yellow tablets. This work was devoted to providing
a model of the photon and occupied a large portion of his time until his
death.
Walter had a passion for growing and tending flowers and was an avid walker,
never missing his daily two-mile hike. He was willing to tackle almost any project.
Despite his advanced age, he was building brick fences and patio structures at
the time of his stroke.
In 1972, Walter married Ethel Grant Long. He is survived by three step children,
Wilbur Long and wife, Leslie, of Wassau, Florida; John Long of Austin, Texas;
and Allene Ramsey and husband, David, of Sylva, North Carolina; by grandchildren,
Sam Long, Noreen Long, Eric Long, Sean Long, Ryan Long, Kevin Long, Erin Bock,
Amber Whitlow, and Matthew Ramsey; by two great-grandchildren, Christopher Long
and Evan Long. He was preceded in death by both wives.
<signed>
Larry R. Faulkner, President
The University of Texas at Austin
<signed>
Sue Alexander Greninger, Secretary
The General Faculty
This memorial resolution was prepared by a special committee consisting of
Professors Melvin E. L. Oakes (Chair), John David Gavenda, and James C. Thompson.
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