84 Years To Go

A man with a record as solid as the durable concrete cylinders which undergo his inspection. Prof. Morton O. Withey '04 has reached the age of retirement as Dean of the Engineering School at the University of Wisconsin. Simultaneously with the announcement of his retirement, the University released a progress report on a research project of his which was begun just five years after he received the degree of Civil Engineer from Thayer School in 1905 and which will continue through the year 2037.

In 1910 Professor Withey cast 450 18-inch-high concrete cylinders. He followed these with other batches cast in 1923 and in 1937. In all 2500 castings of cylinders of various proportions of cement, sand and stone, and many other smaller blocks have been periodically tested for aging under various conditions. His tests on the long-time strength of concretes and mortars were among the first to be initiated in America and have furnished engineers and builders with fundamental information about strengths of materials years after placement. This work has contributed greatly to improving practices in concrete construction.

In honor of his years of service at the University of Wisconsin, colleagues, former students and friends are having a portrait painted of Professor Withey by Charles W. Thwaites, Wisconsin artist. The picture will be unveiled at a dinner during the spring and will be hung in the University's engineering library.

A member of the Department of Engineering at Wisconsin since 1906, he was made Dean of the School in 1946. He taught Civil Engineering at Thayer School for the year 1905-'06. Professor Withey has received various honors and officerships from his colleagues. He was elected President of the American Concrete Institute in 1943 and has twice won medals from that Institute. He also served as Director of the American Society for Testing Materials.