Knoxville News Sentinel (TN) - Saturday, May 25, 201 WILKINSON, MICHAEL KENNERLY
WILKINSON, MICHAEL KENNERLY age 92, a scientist internationally known for his pioneering, neutron scattering investigations of materials, and for his leadership in solid state science at the Oak Ridge National Laboratory, died at his home in Oak Ridge, Tennessee on May 22, 2013.
He was a former director of the ORNL Solid State Division and helped to build that division into an outstanding research organization.
The son of Ridley and Lucille Wilkinson, Mike was born in Palatka, Florida, on February 9, 1921, and attended public schools in that city. He was always interested in sports and participated in high school baseball, basketball, and golf. He was also an excellent student and graduated as valedictorian of his senior class in 1938.
He attended college at The Citadel in Charleston, South Carolina, where he received a B.S. degree in physics in 1942. He was president of his senior class and was the first honor graduate (valedictorian) of that class. As was true for nearly all members of the graduating class of 1942 at The Citadel, Mike became an officer in the U. S. Army immediately after graduation.
Because of his science background, he was sent to special training courses in radar at Harvard University and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in Cambridge, Massachusetts. After receiving this training, he spent most of his career in the Army as radar officer and intelligence officer for the Harbor Defenses of Los Angeles. On June 18, 1944, he married Virginia Sleap, who was also from Palatka, Florida, and they lived in San Pedro, California, very close to Fort MacArthur.
He was released from active duty in the army shortly after the conclusion of World War II. After the war, Mike attended graduate school at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, where he was also employed as a research assistant at the Research Laboratory of Electronics. He obtained a Ph.D. from MIT in 1950, performing his thesis research under Professor Wayne Nottingham on
crystallographic variations in field emissions from tungsten. He also performed research in x-ray scattering under Professor Betram Warren. Mike became a member of the research staff of the Physics Division at ORNL in 1950, joining the program in neutron scattering that had been initiated a few years earlier by Ernest Wollan and Clifford Shull. Shull later received the 1994 Nobel Prize in Physics for the pioneering neutron scattering research that he performed at ORNL.
As one of the early workers in this new field of research, Mike was involved in many different types of experiments and particularly with experiments to clarify the understanding of magnetism in materials. This research has been very important in the development of new materials required for various technological applications.
He was author or co-author of about 75 articles in scientific journals. In 1962, Mike accepted a position as visiting professor of physics at Georgia Institute of Technology on leave from ORNL. In this position he helped to develop the Frank H. Neely Nuclear Research Center. He continued his close association with Georgia Tech for many years as an adjunct professor.
Upon his return to ORNL, he joined the Solid State Division to expand the overall neutron scattering program at the laboratory. He and Harold Smith initiated a program in inelastic neutron scattering research to study the dynamical properties of materials. He also assumed responsibility for the development of new neutron scattering facilities at the High Flux Isotope Reactor that was under construction. These facilities have been used for many years by research scientists at ORNL and by visiting scientists from many other organizations. When Mike returned to ORNL from Georgia Tech, he became very interested in science managements and in the development of a very strong research program in the solid state sciences at ORNL.
He was appointed associate director of the Solid State Division in 1964 and director in 1972, a position he held until 1986, when he undertook other responsibilities at the laboratory. Under his guidance, the Solid State Division became one of the best organizations in the world for studying the physical properties of materials.
WILKINSON, MICHAEL KENNERLY age 92, a scientist internationally known for his pioneering, neutron scattering investigations of materials, and for his leadership in solid state science at the Oak Ridge National Laboratory, died at his home in Oak Ridge, Tennessee on May 22, 2013.
He was a former director of the ORNL Solid State Division and helped to build that division into an outstanding research organization.
The son of Ridley and Lucille Wilkinson, Mike was born in Palatka, Florida, on February 9, 1921, and attended public schools in that city. He was always interested in sports and participated in high school baseball, basketball, and golf. He was also an excellent student and graduated as valedictorian of his senior class in 1938.
He attended college at The Citadel in Charleston, South Carolina, where he received a B.S. degree in physics in 1942. He was president of his senior class and was the first honor graduate (valedictorian) of that class. As was true for nearly all members of the graduating class of 1942 at The Citadel, Mike became an officer in the U. S. Army immediately after graduation.
Because of his science background, he was sent to special training courses in radar at Harvard University and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in Cambridge, Massachusetts. After receiving this training, he spent most of his career in the Army as radar officer and intelligence officer for the Harbor Defenses of Los Angeles. On June 18, 1944, he married Virginia Sleap, who was also from Palatka, Florida, and they lived in San Pedro, California, very close to Fort MacArthur.
He was released from active duty in the army shortly after the conclusion of World War II. After the war, Mike attended graduate school at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, where he was also employed as a research assistant at the Research Laboratory of Electronics. He obtained a Ph.D. from MIT in 1950, performing his thesis research under Professor Wayne Nottingham on
crystallographic variations in field emissions from tungsten. He also performed research in x-ray scattering under Professor Betram Warren. Mike became a member of the research staff of the Physics Division at ORNL in 1950, joining the program in neutron scattering that had been initiated a few years earlier by Ernest Wollan and Clifford Shull. Shull later received the 1994 Nobel Prize in Physics for the pioneering neutron scattering research that he performed at ORNL.
As one of the early workers in this new field of research, Mike was involved in many different types of experiments and particularly with experiments to clarify the understanding of magnetism in materials. This research has been very important in the development of new materials required for various technological applications.
He was author or co-author of about 75 articles in scientific journals. In 1962, Mike accepted a position as visiting professor of physics at Georgia Institute of Technology on leave from ORNL. In this position he helped to develop the Frank H. Neely Nuclear Research Center. He continued his close association with Georgia Tech for many years as an adjunct professor.
Upon his return to ORNL, he joined the Solid State Division to expand the overall neutron scattering program at the laboratory. He and Harold Smith initiated a program in inelastic neutron scattering research to study the dynamical properties of materials. He also assumed responsibility for the development of new neutron scattering facilities at the High Flux Isotope Reactor that was under construction. These facilities have been used for many years by research scientists at ORNL and by visiting scientists from many other organizations. When Mike returned to ORNL from Georgia Tech, he became very interested in science managements and in the development of a very strong research program in the solid state sciences at ORNL.
He was appointed associate director of the Solid State Division in 1964 and director in 1972, a position he held until 1986, when he undertook other responsibilities at the laboratory. Under his guidance, the Solid State Division became one of the best organizations in the world for studying the physical properties of materials.
Knoxville News Sentinel (TN) - Saturday, May 25, 201 WILKINSON, MICHAEL KENNERLY
WILKINSON, MICHAEL KENNERLY age 92, a scientist internationally known for his pioneering, neutron scattering investigations of materials, and for his leadership in solid state science at the Oak Ridge National Laboratory, died at his home in Oak Ridge, Tennessee on May 22, 2013.
He was a former director of the ORNL Solid State Division and helped to build that division into an outstanding research organization.
The son of Ridley and Lucille Wilkinson, Mike was born in Palatka, Florida, on February 9, 1921, and attended public schools in that city. He was always interested in sports and participated in high school baseball, basketball, and golf. He was also an excellent student and graduated as valedictorian of his senior class in 1938.
He attended college at The Citadel in Charleston, South Carolina, where he received a B.S. degree in physics in 1942. He was president of his senior class and was the first honor graduate (valedictorian) of that class. As was true for nearly all members of the graduating class of 1942 at The Citadel, Mike became an officer in the U. S. Army immediately after graduation.
Because of his science background, he was sent to special training courses in radar at Harvard University and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in Cambridge, Massachusetts. After receiving this training, he spent most of his career in the Army as radar officer and intelligence officer for the Harbor Defenses of Los Angeles. On June 18, 1944, he married Virginia Sleap, who was also from Palatka, Florida, and they lived in San Pedro, California, very close to Fort MacArthur.
He was released from active duty in the army shortly after the conclusion of World War II. After the war, Mike attended graduate school at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, where he was also employed as a research assistant at the Research Laboratory of Electronics. He obtained a Ph.D. from MIT in 1950, performing his thesis research under Professor Wayne Nottingham on
crystallographic variations in field emissions from tungsten. He also performed research in x-ray scattering under Professor Betram Warren. Mike became a member of the research staff of the Physics Division at ORNL in 1950, joining the program in neutron scattering that had been initiated a few years earlier by Ernest Wollan and Clifford Shull. Shull later received the 1994 Nobel Prize in Physics for the pioneering neutron scattering research that he performed at ORNL.
As one of the early workers in this new field of research, Mike was involved in many different types of experiments and particularly with experiments to clarify the understanding of magnetism in materials. This research has been very important in the development of new materials required for various technological applications.
He was author or co-author of about 75 articles in scientific journals. In 1962, Mike accepted a position as visiting professor of physics at Georgia Institute of Technology on leave from ORNL. In this position he helped to develop the Frank H. Neely Nuclear Research Center. He continued his close association with Georgia Tech for many years as an adjunct professor.
Upon his return to ORNL, he joined the Solid State Division to expand the overall neutron scattering program at the laboratory. He and Harold Smith initiated a program in inelastic neutron scattering research to study the dynamical properties of materials. He also assumed responsibility for the development of new neutron scattering facilities at the High Flux Isotope Reactor that was under construction. These facilities have been used for many years by research scientists at ORNL and by visiting scientists from many other organizations. When Mike returned to ORNL from Georgia Tech, he became very interested in science managements and in the development of a very strong research program in the solid state sciences at ORNL.
He was appointed associate director of the Solid State Division in 1964 and director in 1972, a position he held until 1986, when he undertook other responsibilities at the laboratory. Under his guidance, the Solid State Division became one of the best organizations in the world for studying the physical properties of materials.
WILKINSON, MICHAEL KENNERLY age 92, a scientist internationally known for his pioneering, neutron scattering investigations of materials, and for his leadership in solid state science at the Oak Ridge National Laboratory, died at his home in Oak Ridge, Tennessee on May 22, 2013.
He was a former director of the ORNL Solid State Division and helped to build that division into an outstanding research organization.
The son of Ridley and Lucille Wilkinson, Mike was born in Palatka, Florida, on February 9, 1921, and attended public schools in that city. He was always interested in sports and participated in high school baseball, basketball, and golf. He was also an excellent student and graduated as valedictorian of his senior class in 1938.
He attended college at The Citadel in Charleston, South Carolina, where he received a B.S. degree in physics in 1942. He was president of his senior class and was the first honor graduate (valedictorian) of that class. As was true for nearly all members of the graduating class of 1942 at The Citadel, Mike became an officer in the U. S. Army immediately after graduation.
Because of his science background, he was sent to special training courses in radar at Harvard University and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in Cambridge, Massachusetts. After receiving this training, he spent most of his career in the Army as radar officer and intelligence officer for the Harbor Defenses of Los Angeles. On June 18, 1944, he married Virginia Sleap, who was also from Palatka, Florida, and they lived in San Pedro, California, very close to Fort MacArthur.
He was released from active duty in the army shortly after the conclusion of World War II. After the war, Mike attended graduate school at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, where he was also employed as a research assistant at the Research Laboratory of Electronics. He obtained a Ph.D. from MIT in 1950, performing his thesis research under Professor Wayne Nottingham on
crystallographic variations in field emissions from tungsten. He also performed research in x-ray scattering under Professor Betram Warren. Mike became a member of the research staff of the Physics Division at ORNL in 1950, joining the program in neutron scattering that had been initiated a few years earlier by Ernest Wollan and Clifford Shull. Shull later received the 1994 Nobel Prize in Physics for the pioneering neutron scattering research that he performed at ORNL.
As one of the early workers in this new field of research, Mike was involved in many different types of experiments and particularly with experiments to clarify the understanding of magnetism in materials. This research has been very important in the development of new materials required for various technological applications.
He was author or co-author of about 75 articles in scientific journals. In 1962, Mike accepted a position as visiting professor of physics at Georgia Institute of Technology on leave from ORNL. In this position he helped to develop the Frank H. Neely Nuclear Research Center. He continued his close association with Georgia Tech for many years as an adjunct professor.
Upon his return to ORNL, he joined the Solid State Division to expand the overall neutron scattering program at the laboratory. He and Harold Smith initiated a program in inelastic neutron scattering research to study the dynamical properties of materials. He also assumed responsibility for the development of new neutron scattering facilities at the High Flux Isotope Reactor that was under construction. These facilities have been used for many years by research scientists at ORNL and by visiting scientists from many other organizations. When Mike returned to ORNL from Georgia Tech, he became very interested in science managements and in the development of a very strong research program in the solid state sciences at ORNL.
He was appointed associate director of the Solid State Division in 1964 and director in 1972, a position he held until 1986, when he undertook other responsibilities at the laboratory. Under his guidance, the Solid State Division became one of the best organizations in the world for studying the physical properties of materials.
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