Father Scott, Shocking Experience

Dear Fr. Scott:

Congratulations on your 75th Jubilee anniversary. I want to take this opportunity to tell you how I believe my life was changed because of you. I consider you to have been the best teacher I ever had through grade school, high school, college and graduate school. You had an approach to teaching that was unique. I was in your physics class as a junior in 1954-1955. You made things so interesting that I don't remember you ever having to reprimand a student a single time for not paying attention.

That physics course I took at Campion had a lot to do with my going on to major in physics and math at LSU when I left Campion. I can remember to this day learning that electricity traveled on the outside of a metal container. You see I was the one that grabbed the coffee can with one thumb on the outside and put it between the electric arc. There is no better way to teach a person than the message you incorporated. I had Spanish class prior to physics but would frequently sneak in reading the physics book during Spanish.

I was particularly fond of our time spent with electricity. I remember vividly electrifying the door knob on my Marquette Hall room my senior year to play pranks on my classmates but inadvertently left it on during lock out and accidentally shocked Father Eberhart (Bless his soul). I learned in your class that by running 120 volts through a high resistance circuit such as a 7-1/2 watt light bulb only a half of amp would be transmitted, something annoying but not dangerous (Ohms Law). I later was told that when you heard of this you quietly chuckled. You may have remembered this little incident since you and Father Wiggins were in charge of the second floor at that time, where I resided (except for six weeks after the aforementioned incident when I had the privilege of moving back to the big dorm (Barn) in Campion Hall.

Since then I have tried to put what I have learned to better use than prankful mischief. Without your inspiration and without the intense interest you inspired while teaching physics I don't know that I would have ever attempted to pursue physics in college.

Again, let me thank you and wish you nothing but the best. I think you have indeed accomplished more in your life than most will ever be aware of.

With kindest regards,
Brendan M. Miles '56
Amory, MS