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Hales, Wayne B.

 Person

Dates

  • Existence: 1893 - 1980

Biography

Wayne B. Hales (1893-1980) was an American educator and academic administrator in Utah.

Wayne Brockbank Hales was born December 20, 1893, in Spanish Fork, Utah. Hales was the son of Jonathan Hyrum Hales and Martha Ann Brockbank. As a youth Hales worked with his father in the Tintic Mines. He earned a bachelors degree from Brigham Young University (BYU) in 1916. He had lettered in both track and basketball while at BYU. Hales was the scoutmaster of the first troop in Provo and was given the Silver Beaver in 1942 for his commitment to scouting.

After graduating from BYU, Hales taught at Ricks College (now BYU-Idaho) from 1916–1921. He served as president of Snow College from 1921–1924. When Hales went to Snow its name was Snow Academy, and its name was changed to Snow Junior College in 1922. He was also the first leader of the institution to hold the title of president. Over the years he pursued advanced degrees at the University of Chicago and the University of Utah. He focused full-time on studies from 1924–1926 at the California Institute of Technology culminating in a Ph.D. Among those who Hales studied under were Albert A. Michelson and Robert A. Millikan.

From 1926–1930 Hales taught at Weber College (now Weber State University) he then joined BYU at the physics department. During World War II, Hales was the coordinator for the BYU affiliated civilian pilot training corps' ground school. He was the only faculty member in the department and taught all of the classes. In 1950, Hales served as the chair of BYU's Diamond Jubilee Committee. He was the dean of the General College of BYU from 1958–1964. Later in the 1960s he was chairman of BYU's athletic committee. Besides physics, Hales also taught courses at BYU in astronomy, meteorology, mechanics, math and photography. Hales taught the first classes in photography at BYU and was involved in forming the BYU Photo Studio. Hales also served as chairman of BYU's athletics council from 1952-1967.

He became an emeritus professor in 1972 but continued to show up at BYU every day. Among other projects he wrote some of the typescripts used as sources for the four volume centennial history of BYU. He also taught in BYU's continuing education department until his death.

Hales for a time was editor of the BYU Physics and Astronomy Newsletter. He was one of the bishops called to preside over one of the first wards in the first BYU stake. He was also the first president of the BYU 5th Stake. Hales later served as a stake patriarch in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

In 1916, Hales was married to Isabel Ethel Wilson. They had six children. Isabel died in 1963. Hales later married Vivian Parkinson.

After his death on May 3, 1980, a Wayne B. Hales memorial scholarship was established in Hales' honor.

Citation:
Human progress through science, 1948: t.p. (Dr. Wayne B. Hales, professor of physics, Brigham Young University)

Wayne B. Hales papers, 1852-1980 (Wayne B. Hales; prof. BYU-Idaho 1916-1921; president of Snow College from 1921-1924; prof. Weber State University 1926-1930; Prof. BYU 1930-1972)

Wikipedia, 22 May 2014 (Wayne B. Hales; b. 1893; d. May 3, 1980)

Wikipedia, March 31, 2014: Wayne B. Hales (Wayne B. Hales, b. 1893; d. 1980; graduated BYU; professor at Ricks College; president of Snow College; professor Weber College; formed BYU Photo Studio; chairman of BYU's athletic council; emeritus professor; stake president; patriarch)

FamilySearch, accessed November 22, 2023 (Born December 20, 1893; died May 3, 1980)

Found in 14 Collections and/or Records:

Belle W. Hales papers, 1916-1963

 Series — Multiple Containers
Identifier: UA 5672 Series 4
Scope and Contents

Contains personal notes, scrapbooks, and diaries of Hales and papers related to her Mother of the Year recognition. Also contains get well cards addressed to her as well as material from her funeral services. Dates range from 1916 to 1963.

Dates: 1916-1963

Better photographs : an outline course in theoretical and experimental photography / by Wayne B. Hales. The relation of art principles to pictorial composition / Bent F. Larsen. Press photography / by Harrison R. Merrill

 File — Folder 1: [Barcode: 31197231035442]
Identifier: UA 150
Scope and Contents

Includes information concerning basic photographic techniques, photo journalism, and the relationship of art principles to photo composition. Also includes 33 original photographic prints.

Dates: date of production not identified

Campus photograph albums

 Collection — Multiple Containers
Identifier: UA 919
Scope and Contents

Originally bound in four volumes, images show Brigham Young University buildings, students, faculty, trustees, and campus life. The volume dealing with students was compiled by Mrs. Fletcher Eyring. Sources for the images include campus yearbooks and Wayne B. Hales. Includes views of Aspen Grove, the Alpine Summer School, and the Timpanogos Hike. Some images are original prints, others are reprints, and still others are from yearbooks and other published sources.

Dates: approximately 1880-1958

Department of Physics department chair records

 Collection — Box 1: [Barcode: 31197233237236]
Identifier: UA 570
Scope and Contents

Contains materials from the Physics Department chair, including twenty-five mounted, photographic Lissajous figures and a reprint of the article, "Recording the Lissajous Figures" from The Journal of the Acoustical Society of America. Also includes a mounted explanation of the process.

Dates: 1944-1945

Harvey Fletcher correspondence relating to the naming of the Eyring Science Center

 File — Folder 1: [Barcode: 31197233618518]
Identifier: UA 504
Scope and Contents

Includes guest lists, invitiations, program, and correspondence concerning the naming of the Science Center, lecture halls, and laboratories. Also includes correspondence from the family organizations representing Frederick Buss, Franklin West, Carl Eyring, John Widtsoe, Orson Pratt, Wayne B. Hales, and Charles E. Maw.

Dates: 1954

Wayne B. Hales collection of Brigham Young University photographs

 Collection — Multiple Containers
Identifier: MSS 2199
Scope and Contents Six photograph albums, accompanied by ten boxes of photograph negatives, which document Brigham Young University faculty, students, buildings, and events, including dramatic and musical productions. The images, collected by Hales, were taken by himself, Walter Cottam, and others. Includes images relating to the Alpine Summer School, Mount Timpanogos, Aspen Grove, Utah Lake, and the city of Provo. Individual images are numbered in the first four volumes, and correspond to the numbering of the...
Dates: approximately 1926-1940

Wayne B. Hales papers

 Collection
Identifier: UA 5672
Scope and Contents

Contains personal journals, notes, scrapbooks, and photographs of Wayne B. Hales. Collection also contains genealogical records like pedigree charts and journals for Hales's ancestors. Dates range from 1852 to 1980.

Dates: 1852-1980

Oral history interview with Wayne B. Hales

 Collection — Multiple Containers
Identifier: UA OH 30
Scope and Contents

Interview by Edwin R. Kimball with Wayne B. Hales, concerning his experiences as a Brigham Young University student, and as a member of the BYU Athletic Council, his family and his experiences with other faculty and administrators at BYU. Includes transcript and sound recording.

Dates: 1978

Outline in theoretical and experimental photography

 File — Folder 1: [Barcode: 31197223107746]
Identifier: UA 1169
Scope and Contents

Volume discusses theoretical and experimental photography.

Dates: 1940