Joseph B. Platt was born in Portland, Oregon on August 12, 1915, and grew up in Rochester, New York. He attended East High School before entering the University of Rochester in 1933. Platt spent four months between his freshman and sophomore years as a seaman in the Merchant Marines, before returning to Rochester where he graduated with honors in physics in 1937. Platt continued his studies at Cornell University, earning a Ph.D. in 1942; his doctoral thesis focused on the structure of metallic potassium. Returning to the University of Rochester, Platt joined the faculty, teaching physics. While on leave during World War II, Platt spent much time at the radiation laboratory at MIT, helping to develop radar devices for the United States Air Force and working on classified projects, such as the microwave adaptation of a British beacon system for blind bombing by aircraft.

In 1946, Platt married his wife Jean Ferguson Rusk, a mathematician at Polaroid, and was reappointed as an assistant professor of physics at the University of Rochester. Following a leave to serve as chief of the physics branch, research division at the Atomic Energy Commission, Platt once again returned to Rochester as a full professor of physics and worked on the design and construction of a 240-million-volt synchrocyclotron. During his tenure, he also directed a research team that produced mesonic atoms identifiable through x-ray spectra and was named outstanding teacher by the Rochester Alumni Association.

Joseph Platt left the University of Rochester in 1956 to become founding president of Harvey Mudd College. Classes at Harvey Mudd began in September 1957 with seven faculty members, 48 students, three administrators (including Platt), and one dormitory. By the end of his first decade as president, nearly 300 students were studying under 43 faculty members, and the school had produced 257 graduates. When Platt stepped down as president after 20 years in 1976, about 1,000 students had graduated from HMC.

Following his time at HMC, Platt continued in academia as the eighth president of the Claremont Graduate School and University Center (now two entities: Claremont Graduate University and The Claremont Colleges Services), a position he held for five years. During that time, enrollment increased 16 percent at the graduate school, new academic programs were offered, and Platt helped lead the construction of a new building for the Management and Policy Program as well as a new Art Center. In 1981, Platt returned to HMC as senior professor of physics, continuing to teach into his 90s. For his dedicated years of service, Platt received the first Henry T. Mudd Prize in 1992, named for the longtime board chair and HMC benefactor.

Platt’s other commitments during his career included serving as a science advisor to UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization); board member, chair, ANSER (Analytic Services, Inc.); multiple roles, National Science Foundation; member, California’s Select Committee on Higher Education; trustee, China Foundation for the Promotion of Education and Culture; member, board on Science and Technology for International Development, National Academy of Sciences; trustee, Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching; trustee, The Aerospace Corporation; director, Bell & Howell Corporation; director, Jacobs Engineering Corporation; director, Automobile Club of Southern California; and several assignments, President’s Science Advisory Committee. Platt also maintained membership in physics and engineering societies.

Joseph B. Platt passed away on July 10, 2012, at the age of 96.

Source:

Harvey Mudd College. “In Memoriam: Harvey Mudd Remembers Joe Platt.” Harvey Mudd College, 2012. https://www.hmc.edu/in-memoriam/joe-platt/.