Mechanical Engineering Professorship Established In Memory Of George Guillet
February 15, 2001
University Park, Pa.—Penn State alumni William P. and Marilyn Guillet Ott of Ballston Spa, N.Y., have established the George L. Guillet Professorship in Mechanical Engineering, Engineering Dean David Wormley has announced.

The professorship honors former Penn State faculty member George Guillet, professor of mechanical engineering at Penn State from 1924 to 1944. The Guillet Professorship provides its holder with the resources necessary for continuing and furthering his or her contributions to teaching, research and public service.

"During his long tenure at Penn State, George Guillet personified the qualities to be a successful faculty member. He was well known for his dedication and generous spirit not only at the University, but in the surrounding community as well," said Dean Wormley. "This new professorship will allow its faculty holder to strive for the high level of achievement in teaching, research and service that George accomplished."

Guillet’s daughter, Marilyn Guillet Ott, says creating the professorship is an excellent way to both honor her father’s memory and thank the University. "Penn State gave him the opportunity to use all of his training, the chance to author much-needed kinematics texts, and the time to partake in his hobby of boatbuilding," said the 1950 agriculture and biochemistry alumna. "State College was a wonderful town in which to grow up, and I wanted to do something for Penn State because it benefited our whole family."

Penn State invests endowed gifts and uses part of the income to support the program designated by the donor. Remaining income is returned to the principal, to further its growth and protect it from inflation. Professorships require a minimum of $500,000.

Guillet was born in Rochester, N.Y., to Canadian parents in 1887. Soon after his birth, the family moved back to Canada. At the death of his parents, Guillet, still a child, lived with his uncle in Ottawa, Ontario. There he completed high school in two years and was accepted at the age of 16 to McGill University in Montreal.

He graduated in 1908 with a B.S. in mechanical engineering with high honors and received the British Association Medal for excellence in engineering. He earned his master’s degree the following year. Guillet began his career teaching at his alma mater and at Queens University in Ottawa.

Afterwards he became a production and technical engineer with Bastian Bros. in Rochester. Guillet’s career in industry also included working as a production engineer at Dominion Engineering Works in Montreal and a research engineer with Johns Manville Co. in Asbestos, Quebec.

He joined the Penn State faculty in 1924, teaching courses in the design of engines and kinematics. In 1925 he married Edna May Sowry, who worked for a number of years for the Penn State Alumni Association.

Around campus Guillet was so well known for his work with kinematics that he earned the nickname "Gear-Tooth Guillet," a reference to the gears that once comprised kinematics. He published a text on the subject titled Kinematics of Machines, and the book’s Spanish edition earns royalties to this day. He also co-authored a second text, Kinematics and Machine Design.

As a wizard with mechanical devices, Guillet devoted his spare time to building motorboats at his cottage home in Stony Lake, Ontario, and lending an expert hand to his State College neighbors and friends.

Guillet passed away in 1944 at the age of 56 after suffering a second heart attack.

Contact: Curtis Chan Phone: (814) 865-5544 E-mail: cchan@engr.psu.edu