Purdue dedicates Felix Haas Hall
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"Felix Haas served Purdue for more than 40 years as a professor, head of the Division of Mathematical Sciences, the first dean of the School of Science and later as provost," said Purdue President Martin C. Jischke.
"Even after his retirement in 1991, he volunteered to teach classes, without pay, because of the joy he has in educating students. Among Dr. Haas' many significant contributions was the formation of the Department of Computer Science. Since its inception in 1962, the department has flourished, and Purdue's program is recognized as one of the best in the nation."
In 1985 the Memorial Gymnasium was remodeled to house the department and was renamed the Computer Science Building. The department eventually spread to several buildings.
Earlier this year, with the completion of the new Richard and Patricia Lawson Computer Science Building, the department was consolidated to two buildings, Lawson and Haas.
"Dr. Haas had the foresight to create the department at a time when computer science was only beginning to emerge as a discipline," said Jeffrey Vitter, the Frederick Hovde Dean of the College of Science. "Computers took up entire rooms, were expensive and were used primarily by government institutions and large corporations to crunch numbers and process data. There were no personal computers and there were few computer scientists.
"Today, computer scientists and engineers are more in demand than graduates from any other field of science. Computer science is embedded in all fields of research, and it is propelling scientific advancements and innovations. The applications of computer science are almost limitless."
Currently there are 522 undergraduates and 152 graduate students enrolled in Purdue's computer science department.
"The philosopher Whitehead defined a university as a place where scholars and young people interact for mutual benefit," said Haas, the Arthur G. Hansen Professor Emeritus of Mathematics. "He stated that a successful administrator should do three things: obtain resources, bring the best people to the university, and shape the direction of the university to reflect changes in knowledge and society's needs in order to offer the best education to students.
"I was fortunate enough to work with presidents who allowed me to look to the future, hire the best people and effect changes."
During his time as an administrator at Purdue from 1961-86, Haas worked under presidents Frederick L. Hovde, Arthur G. Hansen and Steven C. Beering. Haas said it would not have been possible to create successful new departments without their support, and the Department of Computer Science would not have been successful without the work of Sam Conte, the department's first head.
In addition to the Department of Computer Science, Haas was involved with the establishment of the Department of Statistics and what is now known as the Department of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences.
"By the time I left the deanship, the department heads I had hired — including Shanti Gupta, head of the statistics department, Gunnard Kullerud, head of the new earth and atmospheric sciences department, and Conte — had established their departments as among the top in their fields. I worked to recruit talented people and then let them run."
Haas also made high-level computing available to faculty to aid research and attract top professors. Much of the research being conducted today could not be done without the computing support offered by the university, he said.
A strong research environment also can advance the quality of teaching.
"Of all of the things I have done, teaching is what I have enjoyed most. My best memories are of sparking excitement about a discipline in a student who didn't know what he or she wanted to do. That excitement is the best thing that can happen."
Haas was born in Austria, left his homeland at age 17 and then found work in garment and smelting factories. From 1943-46, he served in the U.S. Army field artillery. He entered the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 1946 and went on to receive his bachelor's, master's and doctoral degrees there.
In 1952 he began teaching at Princeton University, moving next to Wayne State University and then to Purdue.
When Haas came to Purdue in 1961 as head of the Division of Mathematical Sciences, the division consisted of the mathematics department and an organization called the statistical laboratory, which was in charge of the university's data processing. He recommended that the division be reorganized to contain the teaching departments of computer science, mathematics and statistics, as well as two service organizations: the statistical laboratory and the new Purdue Computing Center.
In 1962 Haas became dean of the School of Science when it separated from the School of Humanities, Social Science and Education. Under his leadership and at his recommendation, the Department of Computer Science was established within the new School of Science.
Haas served as dean for 12 years before accepting the position of provost. He retired from the position in 1986. Haas continues to serve the university and, until recently, regularly taught math courses at Purdue. He still maintains an office in the Mathematical Science Building.
The three-story Felix Haas Hall building was originally constructed in 1909. It was built in memory of 17 Purdue students, football players and alumni who were killed in a 1903 train wreck on their way to a Purdue-Indiana University football game in Indianapolis. A historical marker that tells the story and memorializes those lost in the accident remains in place.
Writer: Elizabeth Gardner, (765) 494-2081, ekgardner@purdue.edu
Sources: Felix Haas, haasf@purdue.edu
Jeffrey Vitter, (765) 494-1730, dean@science.purdue.edu
Note to Journalists: In case of inclement weather, the ceremony will take place in the commons of the Lawson Computer Science Building, located across the corner at University and Third streets.
Purdue News Service: (765) 494-2096; purduenews@purdue.edu
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