Background
Blass, William Errol was born on August 5, 1937 in Minneapolis. Son of John William and Isabelle June (LaFontaine) Blass.
physics and astronomy educator
Blass, William Errol was born on August 5, 1937 in Minneapolis. Son of John William and Isabelle June (LaFontaine) Blass.
Bachelor summa cum laude, St. Mary's College, 1959. Doctor of Philosophy, Michigan State University, 1963.
Assistant professor physics St. Mary's College, Winona, Minnesota, 1963-1967, University Tennessee, Knoxville, 1967-1971, associate professor, 1976-1981, professor, since 1981, associate director Research and Development Computing Center, 1990-1993, faculty associate Supercomputing Computing Center, 1993-1996, member faculty senate and executive committee, vice chairman research council, 1993—1994, senior consultant to director network services division information infrastructure, 1996—1999, chair, research council, 1995—2001, 2004—2005. Visiting professor Bemidji (Minnesota) State University, 1976. Principal investigator, co-investigator Atomic Energy Commission contracts, 1964-1967, National Aeronautics and Space Administration contracts or grants, 1969-1976, 80-82, 88-89, 91-95, since 2002, Naval Research Laboratory, Stennis, 1998-1900.
Consultant Honeywell Corporation, Minneapolis, 1983, Tennessee Valley Authority, Knoxville, 1988, Martin Marietta Energy Systems, Inc., Oak Ridge, 1989-1990, University Maryland Department Astronomy, 2002, 03, 07. University Space Research Association visiting scientist, consultant Laboratory for Extraterrestrial Physics, National Aeronautics and Space Administration Goddard Space Flight Center, summers, 1992-1907. Consultant University Maryland, 2002-2006.
President elect faculty senate University Tennessee, Knoxville, 1996-1997, president 1997-1998. Member chancellors advisory committee on planning and budget, 1996-1997. Faculty counselor to President University Tennessee Systems, 1996-1999, chair infrastructure team task force, student technical fee appropriations board, 1997.
Member University Technology Appropriations board, 1996-1999, Commission on Women, 1997-1998, Commission on Blacks, 1997-1998. Board trustees University Tennessee, 1999-1900.
Member finance advisory board Winona (Minnesota) Nursery School, 1965-1967, St. Paul's Church Minnesota City, 1965-1967. Board governors John XXIII Student Center University Tennessee, Knoxville, treasurer, 1968, chairman, 1969, board governors University Tennessee Newman Foundation, 1967-1971. Member American Association for the Advancement of Science, Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, Coblenz Society (Ellis R. Lippincott award committee chairman 1989), American Association of University Professors (executive committee university chapter since 1997, American Physical Society, Planetary Society, Optical Society of America, Astronomical Society Pacific, International Neural Network Society, American Geophysical Union, Sigma Xi, Delta Epsilon Sigma (chairman Beta chapter 1963-1967), Sigma Pi Sigma (charter advisor St. Marys College 1963-1967), Pi Kappa Delta, Pi Delta Epsilon.
Married Roseanne Catherine Johnson, June, 1959 (divorced 1974). Children: Stephen William, Susan Kathryn, Julia Anne;m. Jacklyn Sposito, 1974 (divorced 1984).
Married Betty Leona Haskin, February 8, 1985.