Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1963-03-26
Lyman J. Briggs Dies,
u. S. Scientific Leader

DR.. Lyman J. Briggs. director
emeritus Of the Bureau Of
Standards, whose scientific
genius ranged during his 70
years from baseballs to the
atomic bomb, died in his sleep
last night at his home, 5000
Newark street NV.
He had been i'll for several
months.
II follow the precepts Of that
great philosopher and baseball
player, Satchel Paige" DR.,
Briggs said in 1854. Never
look back; something may be
creeping up on you"
Few Americans of the goth
century have looked back less.
His death last night ended a
life of rare achievement which
began on a farm near Lacey,
Mich. in 1874.
When he retired in 1945 as
director Of the National Blu
reau of Standards, DR.. Briggs
had served the Government for
40 years.
Respected World Over
Respected by scientists the
world over, DR.. Briggs stature
in his field was perhaps best
expressed by President Roose-
welt in 1898. When asked If
he planned to nominate a
good Democrat" to be director
of the Bureau of Standards,
the President replied, II haven't
the slightest idea whether DR..
Briggs is a Republican or q
Democrat; all I know is that
he is the best-qualified man for
the job"
In 1899 the President called
DR.. Briggs to the White House
for a top-secret assignment.
DR.. Briggs was asked to head
the original Uranium Com
mittee to study the possibility
Of using atomic energy in war
fare.
AS chairman Of q distin-
pushed collection Of scientists.
he worked closely with the
early research which ultimately
led to the destruction of Hiro-
shima. Among those who worked
under his direction were James
B. Conant, Arthur H. Comp
ton and Ernest o. Lawrence.
Awarded Medal Of Merit
For his work during the war,
which included working on the
development Of the artillery
proximity fuse, President Tru-
man awarded DR.. Briggs the
Medal of Merit in 1913.
DR.. Briggs entered Michigan
State College at the age OF
is, received a bachelor Of sci
ence degree at 10, and later
earned a masters degree In
physics from the University OF
Michigan.
Continuing his studies at
Johns Hopkins University, he
received his PhD. in 1901 after
conducting the first X-ray re-
search at Johns Hopkins fol-
lowing Roentgen's discovery Of
X-rays.
Given Six DOctOrates
Six universities have hon.
ored DR.. Briggs with doctoratt
degrees--Michigan State Col
lege, George Washington Uni
versity, Georgetown University
Columbia University. the South
Dakota School Of Mines anc
Technology. and the Univer-
sity Of Michigan. In addition
in 1854, he received the Ma
tional Geographic Society'S
Franklin L. Burr award in
recognition Of his scientific
contributions.
He began his Government
career in 1896, while still a
student, as a physicist in the
Bureau of Soils Of the Depart
ment of Agriculture.
The same year he married
Katherine E. Cook.
With the Bureau of Soils,
DR.. Briggs originated the GEN.
trifuge method Of classifying
soils by their moisture equiva-
lent. His system is still widely
used in soil laboratories.
In 1906, DR.. Briggs organized
the biophysical laboratory in
the Bureau Of Plant Industry
Until 1917, when he was APP
pointed by President Wilson
to the Bureau of Standards
he made extensive studies OF
the influence OF environmental
factors on the water require
ments Of plants.
From this research, method,
we're developed to determine
the whiting coefficient" Of 6
soil. another widely used dis.
covery.
DR.. Briggs interests ranged
far from his laboratory. A life.
long baseball enthusiast. the
mild-mannered scholar com.
bined aerodynamics with hi
hobby, and, in 1859 confirmed
what every sandlotter ALREADY