James Clifton Eaves
(1912-2002). Mathematician, astronomer, computer scientist. Eaves invented a submarine tracking plotting board (ATRAP), an automatic clock set, and other devices. His interests included early computers, the theory and development of watch and clock mechanisms, the patern markers’ art, kites, and computer constructed songs and music. Dr. Eaves was a teacher at Hillside School from 1932-35, in Pineville, KY, from 1936-37, and at Morton Junior High School in Lexington, KY from 1937-40. He became an instructor in mathematics at the University of Kentucky, Lexington, 1942-43, 1946; University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, 1946-49; then assistant professor of mathematics at the University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, 1949-50; associate professor at Auburn University, Auburn, AL, 1950-51, research associate professor, 1951-52, professor of mathematics, 1953-54, research associate of Auburn Research Foundation, 1952-53; University of Kentucky, Lexington, professor of mathematics and astronomy, 1954-67, head of department, 1954-63; West Virginia University, Morgantown, Centennial Professor of Mathematics, beginning 1967. Director of Institute of Consultants in Mathematics, Statistics, and Patent Law, beginning 1956, of Kentucky Space Flight Program in Space Mathematics and Astronomy, 1959-63; consultant to International Business Machines, 1957-59, to National Aeronautics and Space Administration, 1964, leading a team doing early orbital research related to the three body problem. Education: He received a B.A. degree, with a major in mathematics and physics, from the University of Kentucky in 1935, an M.A., majoring in mathematics and mathematics statistics, again from UK in 1941 and a Ph.D. in 1949 from the University of North Carolina, majoring in mathematics and matrix algebra.
Member, Kentucky Governor’s Committee on Constitutional Revision, 1956-57. Mathematical Association of America (Kentucky section, president, 1956 and 1963, secretary-treasurer, 1960-66; Allegheny Mountain section, chair, 1971-73), American Mathematical Society, American Association for the Advancement of Science (fellow), American Association of University Professors, Society for Industrial and Applied Mathematics, American Society for Engineering Education, Association for Higher Education, National Education Association, National Council of Teachers of Mathematics, International Congress of Mathematicians, Kentucky Academy of Science, Kentucky Association of Colleges and Secondary Schools (president of mathematics section, 1957 and 1964), Alabama Association of College Teachers of Mathematics (president, 1953-54), United Commercial Travelers (Lexington, KY; member of board, 1962-2002), Rotary, Kiwanis, Sigma Xi, Pi Mu Epsilon, Mu Alpha Theta, Phi Delta Kappa.Baptist. Military service: U.S. Naval Reserve, 1942-46; became lieutenant.
Honors: Fellow, American Association for the Advancement of Science, 1963.
Dr. Eaves authored numerous mathematics textbooks on such topics as geometry and matrices and held many patents in such varied fields as submarine tracking and watch movements. Author: The ATRAP, U.S. Navy, 1944; Antisubmarine Electronics, U.S. Navy, 1945; (With others) College Algebra, Pitman, 1956; (With A. J. Robinson) Introduction to Euclidean Geometry, Addison-Wesley, 1956, 2nd edition, 1957; The Kentucky Program for Large Classes, University of Kentucky, 1958; (With Pignani) Computer Programming, University of Kentucky, 1959; (Coauthor with William Vann Parker) Matrices, Ronald, 1960; (With Pence) Mathematics Honors Tests, University of Kentucky, 1962.
Contributor to mathematics and science journals; contributor of popular articles on astronomy to magazines.
Contemporary Authors Online, Gale, 2004.
Obituary in The Courier-Journal, (Louisville, KY), March 23, 2002.