Photo by Stephen Hunts. Forty-seven Years of T-Squared by Jean Arthur, MSU Communications Services Ted Williams witnessed many changes on campus during his tenure as a professor of civil engineering. In 1956 when he landed his first teaching job, MSU was MSC, a small college with about 2,500 students. Male faculty members wore suits and ties. Duties included chaperoning dances in the SUB and attending all-campus assemblies on the top floor of Romney Gym. "The week that I arrived in Bozeman, the Bobcats played their first basketball game in the Fieldhouse," says the 76-year-old. "At that time, we had two Air Force planes on campus, a P-47 and a trainer, sitting where Cobleigh Hall is now." Williams officially retired in 1990, yet continued to teach as an adjunct until spring 2003. He specialized in water resources, engineering mechanics and soil mechanics. He says that during his 47 years with MSU, he was fortunate to work on the school's first computer, an IBM 650. It could store 2,000 10-digit numbers. "The rapid development of computers is probably the single most significant event for colleges," says Williams. "When MSU bought its first computer in the early 1960s, I decided that I would become a computer expert. I took nine credits, got comfortable with the machine, could turn it on and knew how it worked. About the next day, MSU sold that computer. I've never kept up since." Despite William's self-deprecating humor, he is computer savvy. His e-mail, in fact, merges his name, T. T. Williams, with math. "Two Ts in math is T-squared. That's my e-mail, T-squared." Williams served as department head, acting vice president for research and associate dean in the College of Engineering. As director of the Institute of Applied Research, he founded the Chi Epsilon honor society chapter. He advised student organizations. And, he took aerobics classes. "I still have my locker," says Williams. "I'll start taking water aerobics again soon, when I find time." "Never was there a time when I came to campus that I thought I was coming to work," says Ted Williams, who retired from civil engineering after 47 years at MSU. "Teaching and interacting with students is most fun. I feel fortunate to have been able to work here." Between volunteering for service organizations and his church work, Williams squeezes in time with his roommate grandson, even if it's a moment to convince the 22-year-old MSU student to turn down his music--a compromise, says Williams. He never, however, kowtows to fashion whims. Williams always wore a necktie and pressed shirt--still does. During a recent faculty luncheon, he shared his sizable collection of ties with the civil engineers by handing each a favorite faux silk. So what must be T-squared's middle initial? "Tie," of course.