Robert M. Echols

Robert M Echols was born August 31,1919, on the campus of Arkansas A&M College, Monticello, Arkansas. He lived in Hamburg and Dyess, graduated from Wilson High School in 1937, attended college in Southeast Missouri until 1941, then joined the U. S. Navy flight training program. He became a Navy Transport Pilot and holds the rank of Lieutenant Commander on inactive duty at this time. He served in both WWII and the Korean conflict. Echols returned to school and graduated at Arkansas A&M College in 1953, entered Yale University and received the M.F. degree in1954 and Ph.D. degree in 1957. His
further career was research in genetics and wood science, with additional study of electronics, in various parts of the United States. He solved the problem of X-Ray
paralax, which made possible scanning X-ray techniques. He developed scanning X-ray equipment and techniques, plus parallel-laminated plywood, now commercially available. After retirement he became a Full Professor at the University of Arkansas at Monticello, his old Alma Mater. Dr. Echols has published more than three dozen research articles in several languages, including his longer dissertation published by Yale University Press and now available from University Microfilms.
He married Betty Oberst in 1942; they have two sons, Robert and John. Bob and Betty live in San Angelo, Texas.