Senate Reference No. 90-15

EDWIN A. HAGLUND

1920-1990

MEMORIAL RESOLUTION

On November 29, 1990, all of us lost a good colleague. Edwin A. Haglund, Associate Professor of Chemistry, had fought valiantly against a disease which, even to this day, is not well- understood. Ed struggled courageously with the Guillain-Barre Syndrome for over a year, and he and his wife, Emily, showed us the enduring strength of mutual support.

Ed was born in Oscoda, Michigan, on Dec. 19, 1920. When he was 16 years old, he served in the Civilian Conservation Corps in Oscoda. Before completing his education, he served his country during the Second World War in the infantry. Ed's interest in service did not end when the war ended. He was active in American Legion Post 47 and Post 274, and served as past commander of Post 6580 of the Veterans of Foreign Ways. He also served as Second Vice-President of the Allen County Council of Veterans. In addition, he was a member of the 40 et 8 Society Voiture 37. Ed also did considerable volunteer work on behalf of viterans, especially at the VA Hospital.

Ed earned a B.S. degree in chemistry from Michigan State University in 1947, a master's there in organic chemistry in 1948, and a doctorate in physical chemistry from the University of Minnesota in 1956.

Prior to launching his teaching career, he worked for the Department of the Interior in Washington, D. C. for the Division of Saline Water. He also held a license for many years as a real estate broker, and was an employee at one time of Allis-Chalmers.

IPFW recently celebrated its 25th anniversary. Ed Haglund rightfully shared in that celebration because he was one of the pioneers who helped move equipment from the Purdue Center downtown to the present location. In fact, Ed taught at IPFW for a total of 28 years. His fields of expertise were many, including physical chemistry, polymer chemistry, thermodynamics, and chemical engineering. Moreover, he was well-known on campus as one of the top experts in applied mathematics. Among his research interests was the gasohol problem, the use of alcohols as fuels. He was also a participant in a research program at Boston University in 1969.

Ed always kept fit by walking extensively. When he taught at the downtown Purdue Center, he didn't really, need a car, because he lived just a short distance away at the Indiana Hotel. Even after Purdue's move to the Coliseum Blvd. location, he frequently walked into work from downtown. Ed was also an avid dancer.

Ed maintained an avid interest in many sports. If you wanted to know who won the fourth game in the 1956 Would Series, Ed could have told you, and could have added details about who stole a base or made some spectacular catch to end a rally.

He was not big on formality or ceremony, but was always present at informal faculty-student get-togethers. He always got to know his students well and had a strong interest in their welfare. Even when past the usual retirement age of 65, he kept on going strong, and was up at the net, ready to block the next spike, during faculty-student volleyball games.

Ed was one of the top bridge players in the city, and a life master of ACBL Duplicate Bridge.

In all of his diverse interests, Ed was a purist. His derivations were mathematically elegant, and he had no use for decaffeinated coffee, light beer, or wild cards in a game of poker.

When he wasn't teaching in the summer, Ed attended a variety of workshops and institutes to sharpen his skills in engineering thermodynamics and advanced physical chemistry. For many years he served as the academic advisor to chemical engineering students and to pre-pharmacy students.

Ed is survived by his wife, Emily, whom he married in 1966; by a step-daughter, Bobetta Vander Ploug; by his sisters, Joyce Stewart, Marion Hopcroft, Natalie Haglund, and Ann Gembarski; and grandchildren, Gordon and Jill Vander Ploug. All of us will miss our dear friend and colleague, and we extend our heartfelt condolences to his family.