Willard J. Poppy

April 22, 1996 TO: UNI Faculty and Staff Members FROM: Verner Jensen, Professor Emeritus, and Roger Hanson, Professor, Department of Physics Dr. Willard J. Poppy, Professor Emeritus of Physics, died April 12, 1996, at Homestead Health Care Center in Lincoln, Nebraska, after a lengthy illness. A service was held at First United Methodist Church in Cedar Falls on April 16. Willard was born June 23, 1907, on a farm near New London, Wisconsin. He was married on August 28, 1934, to Margaret L. Hallstrom who died on July 12, 1992. He is survived by a son, J. Dale Poppy of Vista, California, a daughter, Janet L. Davis of Lincoln, Nebraska, four grandchildren, four great-grandchildren, and a sister, Rosetta Sherwood. In 1949 he joined the faculty of ISTC where he taught physics, physical science, and astronomy until his retirement in 1975. He earned an undergraduate degree at Oshkosh State Teachers College and a Ph.D. in physics at the University of Iowa. Prior to coming to UNI, he taught at both of those institutions as well as at Fenn College (now Cleveland State) in Cleveland, Ohio. He coauthored, along with Professors Cable, Getchell, and Kadesch, the book, The Physical Sciences, and with Leland Wilson, the book, Exploring the Physical Sciences. He was a member of Arcturus Club, the American Association of Physics Teachers, and the Iowa Academy of Science which he served as president 1976-77. In 1975 he received the College of Natural Sciences Dean's Award for Superior Achievement. Willard Poppy was known in the community for his ability to popularize for the lay public topics such as "Physics of Toys" and "Space Travel." He had an exceptional gift and ability for the successful use of humor in the teaching of physics, a subject regarded by many as formidable. His stories and anecdotes were always appropriately related to the subject discussed. The planned use of humor was based on his teaching philosophy that communication is established and enhanced when the leader (teacher) and audience (students) can laugh together. He planned at least one episode of laughter per class period; others occurred spontaneously. Students were alert and waited in anticipation for the advent of the joke. His humor was always in good taste, never directed to embarrass anyone (except, perhaps, himself), and did not trivialize the physics involved. His stories and anecdotes are legendary and are remembered by former students and colleagues alike. Many aspiring teachers saw him as a role model. Memorials may be sent to the Willard J. Poppy Memorial Fund at the UNI Foundation. The fund will be used for the purchase of physics demonstration equipment.