Summer 2008

Endowment Honors Memory Of Professor Al Schmidt

Professor Al Schmidt was a fixture at Rose Poly and Rose-Hulman for over 46 years. He retired in the spring of 1995 after a 46-year career as a Rose-Hulman faculty member - the third longest tenure of a faculty member in Rose history. In many ways, Al was more than a typical professor, touching the lives of many Rose students over his long tenure. His dedication to Rose students was legendary including housing many students in his home over the years. Professor Schmidt also was the co-designer for the mathematics degree curriculum in 1959, co-founder and instructor for the pre-freshman Summer Institute, co-founder and the first director of Operation Catapult (1967- 1983), and faculty adviser to the Lambda Chi Alpha fraternity for 21 years.

An accomplished musician, Professor Schmidt accompanied the Rose Glee Club and served as its adviser for 25 years, and he played the organ at all commencements from 1959 until his retirement. The carillon in front of Hadley Hall was created in his honor and Al was also a generous donor to Rose providing the organs and pianos in Hatfield Hall and White Chapel.

By almost any measure, Al Schmidt was a cornerstone of our institution. To honor his memory and contributions, Alumni Jerry Badger, Math 1962, and Bill Schindel, BS Math 1969, MS Math 1972, have created the Professor Al Schmidt Endowment Fund to provide ongoing funding to support academic scholarships; Operation Catapult scholarships; and to support piano, organ, and student-based activities as part of our Performing Arts Series.

The fund is doing well and has already surpassed the $100,000 mark, but Jerry and Bill envisioned the fund passing the $200,000 level where it can have a significant and lasting impact on each of the three missions. If Professor Schmidt was a special person to you or had a significant impact on your time at Rose, now is your chance to recognize his place in history of Rose Poly and future of Rose-Hulman. You can participate simply by sending a check or other gift to the Development Office at Rose and by mentioning on your check or gift that it is to go to the Professor Al Schmidt fund. If you have questions or want to know more, please contact fellow alumni Jerry Badger or Bill Schindel or Bill Foraker in the Development Office at 812-877-8219, or through e-mail at bill.foraker@rose-hulman.edu