Show Page 8 May 26 1994 Arnold Henderson & King retiring: Science department loses ninety years of teaching dedication Elisha Ray sdltor in chlsf Lamont Arnold Ph D the youngest of five children grew up in Huntington and graduated from North Emery High School Arnold admits he has had a “variety of educational experiences" Arnold started as a freshman at Brigham Young University He i LaVell King PhD grew up in Huntington and graduated from North Emery High School King went to Carbon College where he participated in basketball baseball and track After earning his associate degree from Carbon College King went on to receive his bachelors degree in zoology and master's degree in entomology from BYU King started his teaching career at Box Elder I Ugh School where he taught a year then transferred to Orem High School where he taught six years In 1962 King made his final move when accepted the opening in the CliU science department King has also taught summer classes at Weber State University “When I first started college there was no way I thought that I would become a teacher Working with all those pesky kids there was just no way" King laughed “I knew that I either wanted to go into art or chemistry So I took art and chemistry while I was at CliU Then when I transferred up to BYU I decided that it was life science that I was most interested in" “I have lots of funny stories" King commented "The first few years I taught here we didn't have a science building so our biology department was up in the cast end of the Main Building We had our two labs up there and Dr Arnold and I had our offices up there as well We also had a small room that had supplies and equipment in at the end of the hall which opened into the hall way The cafeteria was also at the time Anyway Dr Arnold and I were raising fruit flies and mice for our genetics class We didn't lock the room because we were having some problems with the lock All of a sudden we had an increase in our mice population We had all different mice some with spots along with a lot of different colors Wilson Henderson grew up in Paulina Iowa and attended a one-rooprimary school" The teacher taught so much because she instilled in us so much discipline I really appreciate my primary teacher because she taught me to read" Henderson then graduated from Paulina High Schixil Henderson earned his bachelor's degree in physics form Macalcster College in 1958 and a master’s in physics from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in 1964 It was also in 1964 that he started teaching at CEU Although Henderson has taught many classes throughout his career from algebra to computer classes he admits that "physics is my life physics is everywhere There is no sense in dodging that although the students tend to dodge the class physics is definitely my favorite class to teach" “When I went into high school I didn't even know what an engineer was I thought an engineer was someone who worked on the railroad But I liked mathematics So when I got into college and I took my first physics class I knew it was for me" As for teaching "Well I like people and like to share my knowledge with others and likewise learn from them" Henderson explained A great deal of stress comes with teaching for 30 years but Henderson said that what has kept him going was his "love for learning" Henderson continued "that is what is so great about teaching is that you get to learn as well” "I have to say that I don't necessarily have a favorite student but I must admit that the most fun 1 had with the students was when the vets returned from Vietnam The people were sort of mature (age-wisstudent's but still wanted to get their education They really livened up the class Every class is different of course because the people are different" Henderson remarked One of the most memorable moments for Henderson was with a In conceptual physics we do a lot "Well I have a giant yo-y- o yo-y-o of demonstrating and really embarrassing and sad thing happened I had this girl sitting in the front of the class Well 1 pulled this yo-y- o hit across the demonstration table and the string broke and the yo-ythis girl in the forehead and she had to get stitches" I am really happy about the candidates that we have chosen to interview They really have excellent credentials The only advise that Henderson said he would offer is that " you really need to leant how to read the students and find out what they are grasping" I lendcrson also plans to remain on emeritus status '1 just don't want to make the jump all at once I really don’t want to leave I like m e) o was then offered an athletic scholarship to Carbon College (now CEU) for basketball and baseball After graduating fromCC he earned his bachelor's degree at B YU with a degree in secondary education and a minor in zoology and botany After graduating from BYU Arnold was hired by the Carbon County School District to teach high school science courses In 1959 Arnold received his master's degree Upon his return Carbon College had separated from the high schixil After teaching two more years of high schtxil Arnold accepted a position as a life science instructor With the exception of the years from 1967-6- 9 when he attended Utah Stale University and received his doctorate in botany in 1971 Arnold also participated in several summer institute shclaqua programs at North Carolina State and at Tulanc University "I can't why I exactly went into teaching" Arnold commented" maybe there was a little of it in my 'blood' my father was a elementary school teacher my mother was a teacher so it kind of ran in the family" He said that he went into science because he liked the science courses he took in high school and college so decided to pursue the field When asked what one of his funniest times at CEU Arnold said “ I tell my students that the latest I start class is five minutes early and that we start early so we can quit late to make up for it I have always been a stickler for being on time I hate to have to waste time to be on time This one school year I guess I was so anxious to get school started that I got up one morning and got already I came to the campus went into the building and there was hardly a soul around I thought what is going on here? Isn’t today the day that we have our first big meeting date at the start of school? I discovered that the meeting was to take place the next day" Arnold said that he has no regrets in his decision to leach at CEU "I suppose if I hadn't enjoyed what I was doing I would have quit and done something else" He feels this biggest accomplishment was "opening the eyes and the minds of the students that wanted to learn about the natural world around them There is so much to be seen learned and enjoyed Then to get a letter note comment and expression from former students stating their apjvcciation That's it here at CEU" Henderson also plans on spending time with his grandchildren "I especially want to help them learn about physics through some games I also plan on making them each a pair of wooden stilts I had stilts when I was a kid so I plan on making a special pair of reach grand kid" Henderson added with a smile 11 pin-poi- nt my biggest accomplishment" Arnold is not completely getting out of the teaching profession He will have emeritus status next year and will leach a quarter "If I decide that don't want to get out of it I can leach a quarter or a few classes in subsequent years" Like many retirees Arnold has his list of things that he would like hi do with his time On his list fishing and golfing Arnold would also like to try new hobbies such as wood working that we weren't expecting cither We were trying to figure out what was going on We finally discovered that the football players were coming out of the cafeteria after dinner and going into the science room and mixing up the mice for us" After so many years of teaching you would begin to wonder what kept him going King said it was several things "Of course I have liked the classes and the job in spite of the pay But I am sure that the major thing that has kept me going is the people 1 worked with We have had a great working relationship over all the years I have been here We haven't always agreed on things but we always have worked things out" like both professors King will have emeritus sutus next year and will teach classes far a quaner Continuing to teach isn't the only thing he has planned for his retirement "I would like to see the museum have a collection of insecu from the surrounding area I also have been interested in insect fossils" Beyond working with CEU King says that he has to "put my priorities straight and put fishing and golfing along with playing with my IS grandchildren first" to admit that I am biased but I truly believe that CEU is one of the top schools to get your undergraduate work in" King added "my only advise to students is to be dedicated and committed and if you are the doors (of opportunity) will start opening "The wont thing about leaving is that it is so hard to say good-by- e especially to those who 1 have worked with in the science department" King said Wilton Henderson photo by Aaron Brockbank "I have "CEU has been good to me I appreciate it a lot Everyone cooperates so well from the secretaries to the offices It's a good place to work That is one if the reasons why I stayed so long The worst part is leaving Life is full of separations and its never easy to say good-bye- " t Ilfs' ssarrirai t T |