John Wesley Cell
Born: March 29, 1907, Kansas City, Missouri
Died: November 9, 1967, Raleigh, North Carolina
John Cell attended Kansas City Junior College and earned his B.A., M.A. and Ph.D. degrees from the University of Illinois. Before coming to N. C. State in 1935, Cell taught at the University of Illinois, Southern Methodist University and the University of Texas. Cell, together with several other Ph.D. 's who joined the department in 1934- 35 - Clarkson, Levine, Park, Nahikian, Winton and Bullock - were to play significant roles in the growth of the mathematics department.
Cell introduced new graduate courses in applied mathematics and transform theory. He helped the department obtain its first degree programs: Master of Engineering Mathematics in 1947 and the Bachelors of Engineering Mathematics in 1956.
In 1943, Dr. Cell, because of his outstanding work in teaching and research, was honored as the first recipient of the Faculty Award by the NC State chapter of Tau Beta Pi, a national honorary engineering fraternity. During World War II. he participated in rocket research work at the Aberdeen Proving grounds. In 1952, he obtained a sponsored research project in rocket science and in 1962 obtained funds for an Applied Math Group that worked primarily in fracture mechanics. Over his career Cell directed sponsored research projects valued at over one million dollars. In 1967 he won an Outstanding Teacher Award.
In 1957, Dr. Cell was appointed Head of the Mathematics Department and served in that capacity until 1967. During his tenure a doctoral program in Applied Mathematics was started and a superior student program was initiated. He was also instrumental in improving the Library facilities in the university. Under Cell's energetic and progressive leadership the mathematics department was transformed from mainly a service department to a modern university research department. He recruited many mathematicians to help him . Among those hired where Harrington, Struble, Bishir, Koh, Nickel, Sagan, L. Martin, Savage, Chandler, Burniston, Charlton, Hansen - all of whom played important roles in the department for many years.
Cell was very enthusiastic in his teaching and chalk dust would fly everywhere. John Bishir, who took some of Cell's courses used to worry that he would get so much chalk on his glasses that he wouldn't be able to see anything.
Cell was a great believer in seminars and he insisted that all faculty and graduate students attend all seminars. Attendance averaged around 70. Any faculty or graduate students missing a seminar would likely get a phone call or a memo from Cell reminding them gently, but forcefully, of the importance of attending seminars.
In one of Cell's trips to England related to Rocket Research, he met Ian Sneddon, Professor of Mathematics at Glasgow University in Scotland. This started a long collaboration in teaching and research. From 1960 to 1970 Dr. Sneddon made annual trips to N. C. State and lectured on fracture mechanics. He became an Adjunct Professor and worked in the Applied Mathematics Group. Glasgow University and N. C. State also had many exchanges of students and faculty over these years.
Cell was a member of the American Mathematical Society, the Mathematical Association of America, The American Society of Engineering Education, Sigma Xi, Pi Mu Epsilon, American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics, the Society of industrial and Applied Mathematics, American Ordnance Society and Phi Kappa Phi. He also was a Fellow it the American Association for the Advancement of Science. He served as secretary and chairman of the Mathematics Division of the American Society of Engineering Education, and as chairman of the Southeastern section of the Mathematical Association of America.
In 1967, Cell was forced to step down as department head because of illness. He died in November of 1967. Through the generosity of the family and friends, the "John W. Cell Library" was established in the mathematics department. The library was dedicated on May 20, 1968 in a ceremony in Harrelson Hall. Dr. Roberts Bullock gave the opening address "John W. Cell: Man, Mathematician and Educator", Dr. Isaac T. Littleton, Director the university Library talked about Cell's contributions to Library improvement. Dean Menius of the School of Physical Sciences and Applied Mathematics and Dr. John R. Caldwell, Chancellor of N. C. State University both commented on Dr. Cell's many contributions to the university.
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| Entrance to Cell Library | Part of the Cell Library |