Thomas J. Parmley
Encyclopedia
Thomas J. Parmley was a physics professor at the University of Utah
. He served as chairman of the UofU's physics department from 1957 to 1963.
Parmley was born in Scofield, Utah
. His father was killed in the mining disaster in that town in 1900. Parmley received his bachelor's degree from the University of Utah and his Ph.D. from Cornell University
. He was married to LaVern W. Parmley
who served as the President of the General Primary for many years(children's organization in the LDS church). Prior to joining the faculty of the University of Utah, Parmley was involved in cyclotron research at the University of California, Berkeley
. While there he was the lead author of the paper "The Radioactives of some high-mass isotopes of Cobalt"
Parmley was a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He served for 13 years on the General Board of the Deseret Sunday School Union.
Among Parmley's students at the University of Utah were Don Lind and prominent cardiac surgeon and LDS Apostle Russell M. Nelson
.
One of the main physics lecture halls at the University of Utah is named after him as is a scholarship. Parmley's son William became a general authority
in the LDS Church.
Although Dr. Parmely retired from formal teaching in 1980, his zeal for learning and expanding the minds of young people persisted though his whole life. He appreciated science, learning, and discovery, but his true passion was for teaching and helping young students experience the excitement of learning and discovery. If you asked him, assuredly he would list his greatest accomplishments as the lives of his children and accomplishments of his students. His influence continues today in those who knew his kindness, generosity, faith and his amazing enthusiasm for life and learning.
University of Utah
The University of Utah, also known as the U or the U of U, is a public, coeducational research university in Salt Lake City, Utah, United States. The university was established in 1850 as the University of Deseret by the General Assembly of the provisional State of Deseret, making it Utah's oldest...
. He served as chairman of the UofU's physics department from 1957 to 1963.
Parmley was born in Scofield, Utah
Scofield, Utah
Scofield is a town in Carbon County, Utah, United States. The population was 28 at the 2000 census. Scofield's name is frequently applied to the 1900 mine disaster in the Pleasant Valley Coal Company's Winter Quarters mine. The community was named for General Charles W...
. His father was killed in the mining disaster in that town in 1900. Parmley received his bachelor's degree from the University of Utah and his Ph.D. from Cornell University
Cornell University
Cornell University is an Ivy League university located in Ithaca, New York, United States. It is a private land-grant university, receiving annual funding from the State of New York for certain educational missions...
. He was married to LaVern W. Parmley
LaVern W. Parmley
LaVern Watts Parmley was the fifth general president of the Primary of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints . Parmley was the first woman to be awarded the Silver Buffalo Award from the Boy Scouts of America.LaVern Watts was born in Murray, Utah. She married Thomas J...
who served as the President of the General Primary for many years(children's organization in the LDS church). Prior to joining the faculty of the University of Utah, Parmley was involved in cyclotron research at the University of California, Berkeley
University of California, Berkeley
The University of California, Berkeley , is a teaching and research university established in 1868 and located in Berkeley, California, USA...
. While there he was the lead author of the paper "The Radioactives of some high-mass isotopes of Cobalt"
Parmley was a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He served for 13 years on the General Board of the Deseret Sunday School Union.
Among Parmley's students at the University of Utah were Don Lind and prominent cardiac surgeon and LDS Apostle Russell M. Nelson
Russell M. Nelson
Russell Marion Nelson is a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and an internationally renowned cardiothoracic surgeon.-Medical career:...
.
One of the main physics lecture halls at the University of Utah is named after him as is a scholarship. Parmley's son William became a general authority
General authority
In The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints , a general authority is a member of certain leadership organizations who are given administrative and ecclesiastical authority over the church...
in the LDS Church.
Although Dr. Parmely retired from formal teaching in 1980, his zeal for learning and expanding the minds of young people persisted though his whole life. He appreciated science, learning, and discovery, but his true passion was for teaching and helping young students experience the excitement of learning and discovery. If you asked him, assuredly he would list his greatest accomplishments as the lives of his children and accomplishments of his students. His influence continues today in those who knew his kindness, generosity, faith and his amazing enthusiasm for life and learning.
Sources
- LDS Church News, Aug. 11, 1990
- Obituary. Deseret News, 17 Sep., 1997