Jamison Vawter
Jamison Vawter was born in Arkansas City, Kansas on April 21, 1889 to Jamison and Sallie Vawter. He graduated from University of Kansas in Civil Engineering in 1916, and began his professional career as the assistant engineer in the Santa Fe Railway and the Gulf, Colorado. He then worked in France as first lieutenant and as a captain with the United States Army Engineers. Later, he returned to the University of Illinois, and received the Master of Science Degree in 1934.
Mr. Vawter continued his academic career by teaching at the University of Kansas for two years and then at the University of Illinois for thirty five years. While at the University of Illinois, he published his “Theory of Simple Structures” and “Elementary Design of Flexural Members”. He was actively involved in other areas – serving on the Urbana City Council for twenty years and the College Policy and Development committee. He was also member of American Railway Engineering Association and Theta Tau, where he served as the Grand Treasurer from 1924 to 1951 and Grand President from 1953-55. He was also the president of the Professional Inter-fraternity Conference (1931-33) and the Central Illinois Section of the society in 1936.
Mr. Vawter was married to Theresa C. O’Brien in 1922 and had two daughters, Frances Jeanne and Margaret Patricia. He became an Associate Member of Chi Epsilon in 1923, Member in 1926, and a Life Member in 1956.