Spring 1997

Kyker completes 21 years on physics faulty

Charles Kyker says his career choice was an easy decision. "Teaching was always what I wanted to do," he said.

Kyker recently relinquished his teaching duties due to medical reasons. His service to Rose-Hulman and its students as a member of the physics and applied optics faculty spanned 21 years.

"There were always great students to teach at Rose-Hulman," he stated. "They made it a joy to be an educator."

Kyker taught a variety of classes from electricity and magnetism to relativity and nuclear physics.

Physics and Applied Optics Department Head Art Western said Kyker was a constant advocate for the introductory physics laboratories.

"He was very influential in the design of the introductory labs when Moench Hall was renovated. Each year, he edited and updated our introductory laboratory manual. I venture to say that every Rose student since 1979 has used this manual.

Western noted that Kyker has a vast knowledge of physics and physics history which colleagues and faculty drew upon regularly.

"The positive impact he made on the department will be felt for a very long time," Western stated.

Outside the classroom, Kyker was well-known in his role as the spell master for the annual Terre Haute Tribune-Star/Wabash Valley Spelling Bee, and for his musical talents as a member of the Banks of the Wabash Chorus. His singing was not restricted to concerts by the chorus. Kyker also created his own quartet called, "Shades of Gray."

Kyker has a love for the English language and its preservation. He served as spell master for 11 of the first 14 years of the competition. As spell master, he not only pronounced the words to be spelled, he selected the words used during the contest, and cross-referenced the words for use in sample sentences upon the request of contestants.

"The English language is a wonderful thing. It’s a tremendous instrument in which you can say anything six different ways, with seven different shades of meaning. I’m really interested in its preservation, and students learning it," he remarked in a 1992 article published in The Tribune-Star.

Western summed up Kyker’s love of teaching when he recalled, "Charlie once told me of his simple rule of handling tough decisions a faculty member has to make on borderline cases involving students. Whenever there was a question, Charlie always made the choice that favored the student."