THE AGNEW H. BAHNSON JR. PROFESSORSHIP IN PHYSICS
The Agnew H. Bahnson Jr. Professorship in Physics was established in 1964 by a series of gifts honoring Agnew H. Bahnson Jr., Winston-Salem industrialist, scientist, world traveler, author and patron of the arts. Initially it was established as a visiting professorship, and some funds were used to enhance research activities in field physics. As the fund grew, it was converted to the Agnew H. Bahnson Jr. Professorship in Physics.
Bahnson was born in Winston-Salem in 1915. In his late teens, Bahnson "bummed" his way to California, worked as a seamen on a liner bound round the world and climbed the Matterhorn, the first of his two ascents on the 14,785-foot peak in Switzerland.
Bahnson received his B.A. from Carolina in 1935 at age 19. He was a member of Phi Beta Kappa and the Order of the Golden Fleece. After graduating from Carolina, he studied air conditioning engineering and industrial management at Harvard University for a year.
In 1937, he went to work as an apprentice in the machine shop of Bahnson Co., one of the largest U.S. manufacturers of specialized equipment for the textile industry and air conditioning. Ten years later, he was president of the firm. He also was a director of Washington Mills Co., Arista Mills, Denning Corp., Winston-Salem Broadcasting Co. and Southern Broadcasting Co.
Active in civic service, Bahnson served as president of the Symphony Association and was a member of the Winston-Salem Civic Music Association. For 10 years, he was a trustee of Old Salem Inc. He also served on the Interstate YMCA Committee and the Forsyth Airport Commission. He was a civilian adviser to the World Rule of Law Center in 1959. In 1961, former Gov. Terry Sanford named him chairman of the N.C. Atomic Energy Advisory Commission.
Bahnson became absorbed in the pursuit of nuclear physics and gravitational theories. In 1956, he conducted a symposium on gravity research at the annual meeting of the American Astronautical Society in New York City. The following year, he was one of the principal sponsors of the Second International Congress on Gravitation, which attracted more than 50 physicists to Carolina.
A keen student of world affairs, Bahnson was disturbed by mankind’s inability to find a lasting peace. In 1959, he wrote a science fiction novel, "The Stars Are Too High," that a reviewer said called attention "to the danger of permitting scientific advances to move ahead of the now-necessary brotherhood of man."
He was married to the former Katharine Reynolds King of Leaksville (now Eden). They had three children: Karen, Agnew III and Frank (B.A. ’71).
In 1964, Agnew Bahnson was killed when his private plane crashed; he was 48 years old. Soon after his death, the Bahnson Co. and others added to his original contribution to provide funds that resulted in the establishment of the professorship.
Agnew H. Bahnson Professors:
1998-99: James W. York Jr., Department of Physics and Astronomy