Alumni Focus: Holmes Moore
Article reprinted from Fall 2004's Inside Physics [PDF].
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Upon discovering the photograph of UCSB Physics’ first graduating class of 1949, the challenge called: to successfully track down and locate one of the department’s premier alumni. A combination of detective work and good luck led us to discovering Holmes S. Moore.
Holmes expressed his delight in “having a second childhood” with his three grandchildren: Erin, a UCSB alum who graduated four years ago as a communications major and moved on to work in Washington D.C.; Colleen, who is nearing the end of her high school career; and toddler Delaney who, Holmes chuckles, “dressed up as a giraffe her first Halloween.” Graciously, Holmes took a moment from playing with his “giraffe” to reflect upon his journey pre and post UCSB. Prior to arriving at UCSB for graduate school around 1947, Holmes attended George Washington University and Catholic University. He subsequently enlisted in the Navy for about two and a half years in the wartime era. It was while in the Navy that he had the good fortune of meeting his wife, Maude, whom he affectionately referred to as Doll.
To enhance his interests in engineering management and remote sensing, Holmes decided to pursue graduate studies in theoretical physics at UCSB. During his graduate years, UCSB’s campus was located on the Riviera, providing a challenging daily bicycle commute for Holmes, who, with Maude, lived in University married housing located in Hoff Heights. (During World War II, Hoff Heights was established for extended military housing, and was located approximately where Santa Barbara's Mesa neighborhood is today.) After completing about sixty graduate program credits and receiving his doctorate from UCSB in 1949, Holmes went to work for an oil field plant for the Department of Mines in Colorado.
From there, he went on to establish an illustrious career in engineering, working in both government and private industries. Primarily involved with long range planning management, projects included satellite remote sensing, weather satellites, communication technologies, Space Station Freedom, and serving as Chair of the Space Station Advocacy Group. His work involved considerable travel to Australia, Europe, and Japan. Among his honors, Holmes is a Senior Life Member of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE), recipient of the President’s Letter of Commendation, and has been featured in Who’s Who in Government, Who’s Who in American Southwest, and American Men of Science. Satisfying the trivia junkies among us, Holmes’ son (and Delaney’s father), Bill, revealed the fascinating fact that his father also pioneered developments in AMF automated bowling pin setters. In the last portion of Holmes’ renaissance career, until retiring approximately 16 years ago, he kept busy with consulting work, in addition to his three-person company. The primary product the company produced was the “Treasure Finder,” electronic metal detector kits successfully sold among the pages of publications such as Popular Science and Popular Mechanics.
What set these devices apart was that they were among of the first to use transistorized detectors. Holmes and Maude have been in their Virginia home for 40-plus years. Over the years, Holmes has embellished their home, adding an upstairs section, pool, and basement, adding space for his three children and, now, three grandchildren. Holmes, the proud family patron, made a point of fondly discussing his daughter in California, his two sons in Virginia, and, of course, his three granddaughters. His glowing gratitude for his family is particularly revealed as he related the story of a near fatal accident.
About four and a half years ago, driving on his way to visit with family just before Christmas, his vehicle was hit by an intercity bus. The car was totaled, and Holmes was taken to the hospital, where he was pronounced dead. Holmes had other plans, however. Fighting his way back, he spent two months in the hospital, followed by extensive rehabilitation, with plenty of love and support from Maude and family. His granddaughter awaiting him, he concluded his reflections. “From UCSB, I received a really good education – and a saleable one that helped a lot in the business world. My life, I wouldn’t trade any of it – including my time at UCSB – for anything.”
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