John W. Harrelson
Encyclopedia
John William Harrelson was born in Double Shoals, Cleveland County
, North Carolina
, USA, on 28 June 1885. He was educated at North Carolina State University
, where he earned a B.A. in engineering in 1909 and an M.S. in mechanical engineering
in 1915. He was awarded the honorary degree of Doctor of Engineering in 1954.
Harrelson became an instructor of mathematics
at N.C. State in 1909, and later became a professor. During 1909 he also became a member of Freemasonry
. He took a leave of absence from NCSU to serve as a Colonel during World War I
. This led to his nickname of "Colonel." In 1929 he was appointed by Governor O. Max Gardner to head the State Department of Conservation and Development. He left the office in 1933 to head the Department of Mathematics at N.C. State.
Harrelson was a member of the local engineering fraternity Alpha Sigma Epsilon which became a chapter of Theta Tau
in 1924. He was initiated as the second charter member of the new chapter. In 2003, Harrelson was posthumously inducted into the Theta Tau Alumni Hall of Fame.
In 1934 Harrelson was appointed as the first dean of administration at N.C. State; the school's sixth chief executive and the first alumnus to lead the school. His title was changed to chancellor in 1945. Harrelson was at the helm of the university during World War II
and oversaw the establishment of the School of Design and the School of Forestry.
Harrelson retired from office in 1953 and became the college archivist. He left a $100,000 endowment to NC State for art purchases and a lecture series.
Harrelson was "fatally stricken" during his address at the dedication of D.H. Hill Library on March 12. He died in Raleigh, North Carolina
on 13 March 1955. N.C. State's Harrelson Hall was later named in his memory.
Cleveland County, North Carolina
-Demographics:As of the census of 2010, there were 98,078 people, 37,046 households, and 27,006 families residing in the county. The population density was 207 people per square mile . There were 40,317 housing units at an average density of 87 per square mile...
, North Carolina
North Carolina
North Carolina is a state located in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north. North Carolina contains 100 counties. Its capital is Raleigh, and its largest city is Charlotte...
, USA, on 28 June 1885. He was educated at North Carolina State University
North Carolina State University
North Carolina State University at Raleigh is a public, coeducational, extensive research university located in Raleigh, North Carolina, United States. Commonly known as NC State, the university is part of the University of North Carolina system and is a land, sea, and space grant institution...
, where he earned a B.A. in engineering in 1909 and an M.S. in mechanical engineering
Mechanical engineering
Mechanical engineering is a discipline of engineering that applies the principles of physics and materials science for analysis, design, manufacturing, and maintenance of mechanical systems. It is the branch of engineering that involves the production and usage of heat and mechanical power for the...
in 1915. He was awarded the honorary degree of Doctor of Engineering in 1954.
Harrelson became an instructor of mathematics
Mathematics
Mathematics is the study of quantity, space, structure, and change. Mathematicians seek out patterns and formulate new conjectures. Mathematicians resolve the truth or falsity of conjectures by mathematical proofs, which are arguments sufficient to convince other mathematicians of their validity...
at N.C. State in 1909, and later became a professor. During 1909 he also became a member of Freemasonry
Freemasonry
Freemasonry is a fraternal organisation that arose from obscure origins in the late 16th to early 17th century. Freemasonry now exists in various forms all over the world, with a membership estimated at around six million, including approximately 150,000 under the jurisdictions of the Grand Lodge...
. He took a leave of absence from NCSU to serve as a Colonel during World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
. This led to his nickname of "Colonel." In 1929 he was appointed by Governor O. Max Gardner to head the State Department of Conservation and Development. He left the office in 1933 to head the Department of Mathematics at N.C. State.
Harrelson was a member of the local engineering fraternity Alpha Sigma Epsilon which became a chapter of Theta Tau
Theta Tau
ΘΤ Fraternity was founded in 1904 by four engineering students at the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis. As defined by the fraternity, the purpose of Theta Tau is to develop and maintain a high standard of professional interest among its members, and to unite them in a strong bond of...
in 1924. He was initiated as the second charter member of the new chapter. In 2003, Harrelson was posthumously inducted into the Theta Tau Alumni Hall of Fame.
In 1934 Harrelson was appointed as the first dean of administration at N.C. State; the school's sixth chief executive and the first alumnus to lead the school. His title was changed to chancellor in 1945. Harrelson was at the helm of the university during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
and oversaw the establishment of the School of Design and the School of Forestry.
Harrelson retired from office in 1953 and became the college archivist. He left a $100,000 endowment to NC State for art purchases and a lecture series.
Harrelson was "fatally stricken" during his address at the dedication of D.H. Hill Library on March 12. He died in Raleigh, North Carolina
Raleigh, North Carolina
Raleigh is the capital and the second largest city in the state of North Carolina as well as the seat of Wake County. Raleigh is known as the "City of Oaks" for its many oak trees. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the city's 2010 population was 403,892, over an area of , making Raleigh...
on 13 March 1955. N.C. State's Harrelson Hall was later named in his memory.