Comfort avery Adams — 1940 Lamme medalist

“For his contributions to the theory and design of a-c machinery and his work in the field of electric welding”, the AIEE Lamme Medal for 1940 was presented at the Institute´s recent summer convention in Toronto to Doctor Adams who now is consulting engineer for the Edward G. Budd Manufacturing Company of Philadelphia, Pa. Th is was the thirteenth presentation of this medal, which was established by the will of the late Benjamin Garver Lamme for the recognition of “meritorious achievement”. THE purpose of giving any one a medal is to focus public attention on the recipient, so that his achievements may gain greater public appreciation, and young men may be inspired to emulate them. During the quarter of a century I have known Professor Adams, his qualities of mind and attitude toward life have been to me a continual source of inspiration, so it is of them that I wish to speak today. He has first and foremost been a teacher — not merely of his students, but of his associates. There are two ways of learning, of teaching, or of doing — the superficial way and the fundamental way. The first way is the most impressive. I remember well a professor who could answer almost any question immediately. If, however, he were asked a second question, going deeper into the subject, and then a third and a fourth, his answers became slower and less sure, until finally he could give no further information. His knowledge was only about six layers deep.