IEEE-Eta Kappa Nu, Missouri University of Science and Technology, Gamma Theta Chapter
Introduction
The Gamma Theta Chapter of IEEE-Eta Kappa Nu (IEEE-HKN) serves the students in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, and Computer Science at Missouri University of Science and Technology in Rolla, Missouri USA. The host department is now the Electrical and Computer Engineering (ECE) Department and HKN is one of the main in-department student organizations along with the IEEE Student Branch and the Amateur Radio Club. The chapter inducts students and professional members and it provides valuable service to the campus and community including administration of the ECE Student Projects Laboratory. This site was prepared and is maintained by the members of the Gamma Theta Chapter.
Missouri University of Science and Technology (S&T) was established in 1870 as Missouri School of Mines and Metallurgy (MSM) and later was known as the University of Missouri-Rolla (UMR). The university is a technological institution with a vast majority of its students in technical fields of study and it is known for its many student design teams. Electrical engineering was first taught through the physics department with the first BS EE degree being awarded in 1917. Electrical Engineering became a separate department in 1924. Computer Engineering became an option and the department became the Electrical and Computer Engineering Department in 1998. Computer Science degrees are offered through the Computer Science Department. BS, MS, and PhD degrees are offered in electrical engineering, computer engineering, and computer science. Rolla is located in south-central Missouri in the Ozarks region.
History of the Gamma Theta Chapter of HKN
The honor society chapter had its start in 1950. Following the procedures of the time, Electrical Engineering students at the institution that was then known as the Missouri School of Mines and Metallurgy established the Theta Mu honor society on December 5, 1950. An intention of this organization was to gain formal recognition from the honor society, Eta Kappa Nu (HKN). A petition was submitted for the charter of a local chapter. A charter was granted on April 26, 1952 establishing the Gamma Theta chapter. The founding president was Homer E. Coonce and the founding faculty advisors were Roger E. Nolte and Gabriel G. Skitek. The charter ceremony was officiated by Dr. Ovid W. Eshbach, National President of HKN and Dean of Northwestern University. Alton B. Zerby, Executive Secretary of HKN, and alumni of the Nu Chapter - Roger E. Nolte, M. G. Keeney, and Philip L. Bartleson, assisted with the chartering ceremony. University representatives were Dr. Curtis L. Wilson, head of MSM, and Dr. Israel H. Lovett, Chairman of the Electrical Engineering Department. Dr. Mervin J. Kelly, President of Bell Telephone Laboratories and Rolla alumnus from 1914, was a special guest and was inducted as a professional member of HKN.
The thirty-one HKN members at the induction of April 26, 1952 were Donald G. Bardon, Paul H. Breazeale, Homer E. Coonce, William Crawley, John N. Davidson, John H. Dickerman, Rodney E. Gilbreath, David L. Hillhouse, Mervin J. Kelly*, William P. Kimker Jr., Ernest Peter Longerich, Israel H. Lovett*, John G. Macke, George F. McCormick, Charles M. McDowell, William G. Meyers, Ferd Mullersman, Joseph J. Murphy, Claude J. Osbourne, Robert J. Owens, William A. Paar, Charles C. Poe, Robert E. Rasche, Michael C. Robel, James F. Ruhl, Wiley T. Ruhl, Gerald F. Sinnamon, Gabriel G. Skitek*, Frederick R. Wagner, Ronald R. Watson, and John Zaborszky* (* professional members). The professional members were Mervin J. Kelly, President of Bell Laboratories and Rolla alumni; Israel H. Lovett, Electrical Engineering Department Chair; Gabriel G. Skitek, electrical engineering faculty member; and John Zaborsky, electrical engineering faculty member.
The predecessor organization of Theta Mu was formed on December 5, 1950 by the following students at MSM: Ferd Mullersman, Richard G. Mallon, Charles M. McDowell, Martin F. Rust, John G. Macke, Edward R. Knauel, Homer E. Coonce, Maurice J. Ludwig, Joseph J. Murphy, Richard R. Robotti, and John N. Davidson. The faculty advisors were Gabriel G. Skitek and Roger E. Nolte. Richard R. Robotti served as the first president. The petition for an Eta Kappa Nu chapter was submitted November 1951. This petition was signed by the following students: Donald G. Bardon, Paul H. Breazeale, Honer E. Coonce, William Crawley, John H. Dickerman, Floyd M. Drummond, Rodney E. Gilbreath, Vernon E. Hackman, Milton H. Hellman, Paul L. Hydinger, William P. Kimber, Edward R. Knauel, Charles M. McDowell, John G. Macke, Joseph J. Murphy, Claude J. Osborne, Robert J. Owens, William A. Paar, Robert W. Rasche, James F. Ruhl, Frederick R. Wagner, and Ronald R. Watson. Homer E. Coonce was president when the petition was submitted.
The Presidents of the Gamma Theta Chapter are listed below. The 1950-1952 terms were for the academic year of the Theta Mu chapter. The terms for 1952 and beyond are for the Fall and Spring Semesters of the Gamma Theta Chapter.
| Term | Names |
|---|---|
| 2022 | Aaron Burke |
| 2022 | Elanor Jackson |
| 2021 | Elanor Jackson |
| 2021 | Danielle J. Baker |
| 2020 | Cailyn Crowley |
| 2020 | Chelsea Shaffer |
| 2019 | Richard Kell |
| 2019 | Rachel Bruner |
| 2018 | Alexander Hook |
| 2018 | Jacqueline M. Walters |
| 2017 | Joseph “Trenton” Drury |
| 2017 | Katelyn R. Brinker |
| 2016 | Clint R. Paes |
| 2016 | Kayla U. Ninh |
| 2015 | Kyle A. Teevan |
| 2015 | Emily M. DiGirolamo |
| 2014 | Paul Sappington |
| 2014 | Mallory Mitchell |
| 2013 | Kaitlyn M. Schikore |
| 2013 | Jeremy Johnson |
| 2012 | Vincent T. Allen |
| 2012 | Vincent T. Allen |
| 2011 | Kenneth N. Bassler III |
| 2011 | William Marchetto |
| 2010 | Kevin E. Robison |
| 2010 | Gina S. Hentschke |
| 2009 | Zachary R. Marsden |
| 2009 | Tori J. Ratliff |
| 2008 | Robert D. Zuroweste |
| 2008 | Tyler G. Sheeley |
| 2007 | Amy K. Perrey |
| 2007 | Jeffrey J. Labundy |
| 2006 | Luke A. Hogrebe |
| 2006 | Benjamin R. Moss |
| 2005 | Frances L. Pratt |
| 2005 | M. Ryan Bales |
| 2004 | Richard A. Milburn |
| 2004 | Jeremy M. Allyn |
| 2003 | Paul T. Mattione |
| 2003 | William F. Krekeler |
| 2002 | Jesse Lai |
| 2002 | James W. Fonda |
| 2001 | James W. Fonda |
| 2001 | John Fitez |
| 2000 | Sarah Taylor |
| 2000 | Kevin Kroeger |
| 1999 | S. Paul Hatfield II |
| 1999 | S. Paul Hatfield II |
| 1998 | Chris Olsen |
| 1998 | Chris Olsen |
| 1997 | Ted Zeeff |
| 1979 | Patrick Chapman |
| 1996 | Brian Willingham |
| 1996 | Carrie May |
| 1995 | Sean J. Bentley |
| 1995 | Matt Spaethe |
| 1994 | Chris Matt |
| 1994 | Jeff Watrous |
| 1993 | Steve Poulsen |
| 1993 | Warren Waas |
| 1992 | Todd Sublette |
| 1992 | Michael Pruitt |
| 1991 | William Alexander |
| 1991 | Ryan Elbert |
| 1990 | Jonathan Joplin |
| 1990 | Kevin Kohm |
| 1989 | Becky L. Dancy |
| 1989 | Lynn C. Berning |
| 1988 | Shelly Law |
| 1988 | Nancy Wojciechowski |
| 1987 | Chris Cooper |
| 1987 | Alan Simpson |
| 1986 | Elizabeth C. Rollheiser |
| 1986 | David M. Walling |
| 1985 | Rick Maness |
| 1985 | Rick Maness |
| 1984 | Clay Melugin |
| 1984 | Brent Jenkins |
| 1983 | William C. Schulze |
| 1983 | David Gaskill |
| 1982 | C. Frederick Kummer III |
| 1982 | Andrew W. Bonnot |
| 1981 | James K. Haberstock |
| 1981 | J. Keith Townsend |
| 1980 | Mark J. Nealon |
| 1980 | UNK |
| 1979 | Steve Diebold |
| 1979 | Robert W. Arnold |
| 1978 | Craig L. Agne |
| 1978 | Stephen L. Allen |
| 1977 | Robert C. Welsh |
| 1977 | Dennis C. Appel |
| 1976 | Alan V. Parks |
| 1976 | Paul Abney |
| 1975 | Dennis W. Leitterman |
| 1975 | Alan Erickson |
| 1974 | Paul L. Clites |
| 1974 | Michael E. Cerulo |
| 1973 | Jerry Sanders |
| 1973 | Leonard F. Laskowski III |
| 1972 | Ronald D. Fadler |
| 1972 | George W. Havenstein |
| 1971 | Donald A. Bene |
| 1971 | Jerry T. Sewell |
| 1970 | Constantine R. Jenkins |
| 1970 | Thomas D. Steury |
| 1969 | George M. Vernon |
| 1969 | Jerry Brown |
| 1968 | Robert J. Livengood |
| 1968 | James L. Wiseman |
| 1967 | Dennis Greer |
| 1967 | UNK |
| 1966 | James R. Armstrong |
| 1966 | Larry Robinson |
| 1965 | James E. Stangel |
| 1965 | James D. Spencer |
| 1964 | Donald E. Spirk |
| 1964 | Henry E. Fischer |
| 1963 | John Hollaway |
| 1963 | Kent W. Swearingen |
| 1962 | George Alexander |
| 1962 | Memphord Smith |
| 1961 | William H. Slocum |
| 1961 | Russell M. Ousley |
| 1960 | Lloyd Brunkhorst |
| 1960 | William McGovern |
| 1959 | Douglas M. Froemsdorf |
| 1959 | James H. Hahn |
| 1958 | Leland L. Lory |
| 1958 | Norval D. Wallace |
| 1957 | Orville L. Schaefer |
| 1957 | Paul E. Zahn |
| 1956 | Liston E. Neely |
| 1956 | Jack D. Stewart |
| 1955 | James F. Longshore |
| 1955 | Richard L. Kaiser |
| 1954 | Donald Gessley |
| 1954 | Jerry D. Swearingen |
| 1953 | Charles Poe, Jr. |
| 1953 | Donald G. Bardon |
| 1952 | Claude J. Osborne |
| 1952 | Homer E. Coonce |
| 1951-1951 | Homer E. Coonce |
| 1950-1951 | Richard R. Robotti |
HKN Office at Rolla, Missouri USA
During 1988-1999, the Eta Kappa Nu headquarters office was located in Rolla, Missouri while Dr. J. Robert Betten served as Executive Secretary of HKN. Betten was Emeritus Professor of Electrical Engineering. He was on the UMR faculty for 1962-1992 and served as department chairman for 1967-1978. Betten (1932-2000) received his BS (1955), MS (1959), and PhD (1962) from Iowa State University and was inducted into HKN in 1955 as a member of the Nu Chapter. He served the National HKN Association as Director (1977-1979), Vice-President (1981-1982), President (1982-1983), and Executive Secretary and The Bridge Editor (1988-1999). A special memorial issue of The Bridge magazine for Dr. Betten was published in the summer 2000 (Volume 96, No. 2).
