Tales from the punch-card days

Associate Editor Bill Wagnon's article in the summer issue of Alumnus recounting the early days of computing at Mississippi State elicited memories of those 'good ole days' from several readers. Following are excerpts from their letters.

Dear Editor,
      Thank you for the article by Bill Wagnon on "Less power than a laptop in 1,200 square feet." It brought back many good thoughts on my last year and a half at MSU in 1959-60. In 1958, I took the first course offered by State on the IBM 650. That summer, I worked for the Corps of Engineers in Vicksburg and taught the course to the engineers using the IBM 650 at the Waterways Experiment Station. I was unable to return to State in the fall due to lack of funds. I continued to work with the Corps in Vicksburg using the computer and returned to school in the fall of 1959.
      I had contacted Mr Fred Davis, the director of the computer center, and asked for a student job. He replied he would like to have me work there and apologized that he could only give me $1.00 per hour. . . . Those were the good ole days and prepared me for my future career. [Retired as director of Information Management Systems for the Corps in 1993.]

Harry F. Hardin
BSCE 1960

Dear Editor,
      I read with great interest and fond memories the article about the arrival of the computer on campus. In spring 1960, I was in my senior year majoring in mechanical engineering. Dr. Bobbitt asked me to participate in a National Science Foundation grant program dealing with adapting engineering problems for computer solutions. I remember being surprised because I was not an outstanding student, but I was planning to marry later that summer and the money I was to earn was very much needed. We were to work at least 400 hours that summer and were to be paid $600 for our time. . . .
      I don't think I have seen Dr. Bobbitt since I graduated in 1961. I would certainly appreciate it if you would send him a copy of this note. I would like for him to know how I remember a very pleasant time in my life.

Charles L. Brown Jr.
BSME 1961

Dear Editor,
      Charlie Brown [see above] and I roomed together in the summer of 1960 and I worked on a research project that Mr. Holmes, our dean, had an interest in, "The Rotating Impact Tube.". . .
      Even though I learned a lot from the project, the most vivid memory I have is that Dr. Bobbitt loaned me $600 to pay my tuition, which alleviated me dropping out of school because of a lack of money. Dr. Bobbitt was not only a very professional instructor, but showed tremendous compassion for a country boy "redneck." The project allowed me the funds to repay him for the loan, which was greatly appreciated.
      Thanks for your article.

Charles B. Holder
BS 1961