Frank J. Ayres, Jr. (1901-1994)

Frank Ayres, Jr. was born on December 10, 1901 in Rock Hall, Maryland. He earned his bachelor of science degree from Washington College, Maryland and his master's and doctoral degrees from the University of Chicago.

He taught from 1921-24 at Ogden College and another four years at Texas A&M before coming to Dickinson in June 1928. He was promoted to associate professor in June, 1935. Along with his teaching, he also served as assistant registrar and registrar between 1941 and 1945.

Ayres was also an instructor in the Army Air Corps program at the College, 1943-44, and authored a book, Basic Mathematics of Aviation, which was adopted across the Air Corps training system. In all, he wrote seven textbooks. In 1943 he was named the Susan Powers Hoffman Professor of Mathematics. From 1938 until his retirement in June, 1958, he served as chairman of the mathematics department.

Outside of the classroom, Ayres played flute in the College Orchestra. His daughter, Margaret Ayres Jacobs, graduated from Dickinson with the class of 1951. He died in June, 1994.