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Memorial Tributes: Volume 15 (2011)

Chapter: Leslie A. Geddes 1921-2009

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Suggested Citation:"Leslie A. Geddes 1921-2009." National Academy of Engineering. 2011. Memorial Tributes: Volume 15. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/13160.
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Suggested Citation:"Leslie A. Geddes 1921-2009." National Academy of Engineering. 2011. Memorial Tributes: Volume 15. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/13160.
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LESLIE A. GEDDES

1921–2009

Elected in 1985

“For his contributions in combining electrical and physiological principles with pioneering efforts in biomedical research.”

BY KINAM PARK
SUBMITTED BY THE NAE HOME SECRETARY

The Geddes Way

At the northwest corner of the city of West Lafayette, the home of Purdue University, there is a street leading to a huge, Star Trek–like, pyramid-shaped building that is leaning forward as if about to tip over. It feels like one is entering the Twilight Zone when walking the street toward the building that houses MED Institute, Inc. The name of the street is Geddes Way. The street is, of course, named after Professor Leslie A. Geddes. This is a most appropriate name for the street, as Les Geddes was never afraid of crossing the Twilight Zone into a land whose boundaries are those of one’s imagination. In fact, he pursued a journey into the fifth dimension of imagination throughout his entire life. To Les, imagination was the only limitation to what he did. He had a curiosity-driven, can-do-anything mindset, and such a positive attitude was the source of his endless successes until the day he died.

Les Geddes was born on May 24, 1921 in Port Gordon, Scotland. His family moved to Canada, where he studied electrical engineering and obtained his B.S. and M.S. degrees from McGill University in Montreal. Then he enrolled at Baylor University’s College of Medicine, in Texas, to obtain his Ph.D. degree in physiology. Being a graduate student at Baylor brought him the opportunity to work on a part of the space program. He participated in developing impedance

Suggested Citation:"Leslie A. Geddes 1921-2009." National Academy of Engineering. 2011. Memorial Tributes: Volume 15. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/13160.
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pneumography for measuring the respiration of astronauts who flew the Mercury and Gemini spaceships for the National Aeronautics and Space Administration. He also designed simple yet effective physiological monitoring systems that are still in use today. Most recently, he designed a simple tool for effective cardiopulmonary resuscitation that can easily provide 100 pounds of force without danger of cracking a rib or the sternum.

Les married Dr. LaNelle E. Reese in 1962. LaNelle, who led the School of Nursing at Purdue University for many years, helped Les bridge the gap between engineering and medicine. Les’s research on electrodes and cardiovascular, neural, and respiratory devices and restorative tissues resulted in numerous diagnostic and therapeutic methods affecting thousands of lives. He had many patents; one of them brought the largest out-licensing deal in the history of Purdue University.

Despite his sky-high scientific achievements and adoration by his peers, Les Geddes was a remarkably down-to-earth man. He was easy to access, have a conversation with, and exchange ideas. He was always available to those who requested time with him, no matter who or why. He was frequently the first person arriving at a meeting place, and many times he arranged the desks and brought additional chairs to the room to make the meeting more pleasant and efficient. It all stemmed from his love and respect of people, and it was most pronounced in his teaching. He was masterful at guiding students in his classes and research group to be independent thinkers with ample curiosity, motivating them to be their best. His excellence in teaching led to his induction into the Purdue University Book of Great Teachers in 2008. Whether we knew Les through occasional acquaintance only or on a daily basis as his colleague, our impression of him was the same—what we saw is what he was. Like a good neighbor, he always tried to find something to help others and cherished and valued the wonderful people he had around him.

From his arrival at Purdue University in 1974 until his official retirement in 1991 at the age of 70, Les dedicated

Suggested Citation:"Leslie A. Geddes 1921-2009." National Academy of Engineering. 2011. Memorial Tributes: Volume 15. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/13160.
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himself to establishing the biomedical engineering research center, which eventually became the Department of Biomedical Engineering, and then most recently the Weldon School of Biomedical Engineering. To him, retirement simply meant conducting research and teaching only with no administrative paperwork—and he loved the arrangement. For the next 18 years he served as the Showalter Distinguished Professor Emeritus of Biomedical Engineering. He came to his office before 5 a.m. and finished all his official daily business by 10 a.m. He then went back home to enjoy what he liked most—thinking. He loved thinking over a drink— a Manhattan. He mentioned that he came up with many new ideas during these quiet times.

Those who interacted with Les in any capacity knew that any of his new ideas was followed by experiment in a matter of hours. One day we were talking about condensing the exhaled breath for monitoring glucose levels, and in less than 24 hours he showed me a prototype that he had assembled. He then volunteered to be the first human subject for the experiment. I was 30 years his junior but felt like I was 30 years slower with 30 times fewer ideas. One day he left a nice bottle of liquor on my desk. It was one of the most expensive liquors one can buy. Perhaps, he wanted me to start drinking Manhattans.

Of the many awards that Geddes received during his memorable career the National Medal of Technology shines brightest. President Bush celebrated his lifelong career, and Les responded by saying, “I’m not done yet.” He enjoyed his research life so much that he never thought about doing anything else. Other things simply were not as much fun as research. Following the award ceremony at the White House, adoring friends and colleagues at Purdue University gathered together to celebrate the event at a gallery in the new Martin C. Jischke Hall of Biomedical Engineering. After a remark thanking all of his associates through the years, Les finished his talk with a joke: “A man had a bottle of the best whiskey that he cherished all his life. At the time of his final days, he gave it to his brother and asked him, ‘Would you please pour this whiskey on my grave?’ His brother said, ‘Yes, of course I

Suggested Citation:"Leslie A. Geddes 1921-2009." National Academy of Engineering. 2011. Memorial Tributes: Volume 15. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/13160.
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will, but can it go through my kidneys first?’” If the man were Les, he could have answered, “Yes, but artificial kidneys only please.”

A few years ago, over 200 friends gathered at the Weldon School of Biomedical Engineering at Purdue for a tribute to Les’s lifelong achievements. Each of more than 100 of Les’s former students had many stories to tell, but they were all about love and respect. Les loved his students as if they were his own children. One of his former students said that the first day he joined Les’s group, Les took him to a shop to buy him a razor blade to shave his beard off to make him look cleaner and more handsome. Not only did he inspire his students, but also many scientists throughout the world. In so doing, he truly helped shape the modern medical industry. His legacy will continue to inspire future generations of scientists and entrepreneurs. To keep his legacy burning brightly, Purdue University established the Dr. Leslie A. Geddes Scholarship Fund in the Weldon School of Biomedical Engineering. The school also established the Geddes Professorship through the generosity of the Cook Group to pass the torch to a new generation of biomedical engineers.

Les was never afraid of facing his final days and continued teaching his class until five days before his death. Prior to his passing he asked for no funeral and no memorial. I believe that it was not necessary for him, as he was about to enter a new world where he would know how much we adored him and how we felt about his passing. Sometimes I wonder what new biomedical devices he is thinking of in his new place, maybe over a Manhattan. I would not know, but I can say for sure that they will be for the health and well-being of others, just as he left his body for medical research, to help improve the quality of life for us all.

In the end, it is clear that Les lived a life that was full, with no regrets, by doing what he enjoyed most until his last day. Yes, it was his way. The Geddes Way.

He is survived by his wife, LaNelle E. Geddes; a son, James; two granddaughters; and four great-grandchildren.

Suggested Citation:"Leslie A. Geddes 1921-2009." National Academy of Engineering. 2011. Memorial Tributes: Volume 15. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/13160.
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Suggested Citation:"Leslie A. Geddes 1921-2009." National Academy of Engineering. 2011. Memorial Tributes: Volume 15. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/13160.
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Suggested Citation:"Leslie A. Geddes 1921-2009." National Academy of Engineering. 2011. Memorial Tributes: Volume 15. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/13160.
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Page 117
Suggested Citation:"Leslie A. Geddes 1921-2009." National Academy of Engineering. 2011. Memorial Tributes: Volume 15. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/13160.
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Page 118
Suggested Citation:"Leslie A. Geddes 1921-2009." National Academy of Engineering. 2011. Memorial Tributes: Volume 15. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/13160.
×
Page 119
Suggested Citation:"Leslie A. Geddes 1921-2009." National Academy of Engineering. 2011. Memorial Tributes: Volume 15. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/13160.
×
Page 120
Suggested Citation:"Leslie A. Geddes 1921-2009." National Academy of Engineering. 2011. Memorial Tributes: Volume 15. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/13160.
×
Page 121
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This is the fifteenth volume in the series of Memorial Tributes compiled by the National Academy of Engineering as a personal remembrance of the lives and outstanding achievements of its members and foreign associates. These volumes are intended to stand as an enduring record of the many contributions of engineers and engineering to the benefit of humankind. In most cases, the authors of the tributes are contemporaries or colleagues who had personal knowledge of the interests and the engineering accomplishments of the deceased.

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