Knox College Athletics

Herb Priestley received his BS in 1933 and his Ph.D. in 1935 from the University of Leeds in England. He served in the intelligence branch of the RAF during the World War II. After moving to the United States, he taught at Ripon College for six years for six years before comi9ng to Knox in 1952 as Chair of the Physics Department.
 
He became actively involved with Knox College athletics immediately after arriving on campus. “I have always believed,” he has often said, “that students should enjoy their athletic experience.” He became the voice of Knox College” in the 1950’s, announcing football games at Willard Field and basketball games at what was then the new Memorial Gymnasium. His English accent was not lost on the ears of Midwest Conference sports fans. During that decade no professor showed more interest and support for Knox athletics by attending games and practices, going on road trips, and following the individual accomplishment of Knox players than Herb Priestley.
 
His contributions to the college’s academic operations are of, course, his greatest legacy. He authored Introductory Physics – An Historical Approach in 1958. He directed summer institutes for high school science teachers for 15 years. He chaired the committee which was given the responsibility of working with architects in the design and planning of the Umbeck-Science and Mathematics Center. He also enriched the curriculum by instituting several new physics course for liberal arts students such as “ The Universe,” “ The Physics of Music,” and “Science and Society.” He was a member if the American Association of the Advancement of Science, National Science Teachers Association, and Illinois Science Teachers Association.
 
Herb served the college as an able administrator from 1976-1980 as Director of Deferred Giving in the Development Office. After retiring from Knox, he joined the faculty of Carl Sandburg College where he initiated their physics curriculum and taught for 12 years.