Sherm Hendrix

Sherm Hendrix

Professor of Biology

Class of 1961

"I was from Stratford, Connecticut and looking a for college away from home but not too far away. Although back then there were no interstates, so it took about six hours to get here!  I looked at a few colleges in New York, but Gettysburg was the most interesting."

Hendrix majored in biology with a minor in chemistry. "I decided I wanted to be a marine biologist because I lived in a coastal town and loved fishing."

But Hendrix wasn't always hitting the books. He joined the International Relations Club, was a second string track runner, had a classical music radio show for a year, and pledged Theta Chi fraternity.

"I still exchange Christmas cards with, and occasional see, some of my fraternity buddies."

"There were not as many women on campus then, so men went to parties at Hood or Wilson Colleges to meet them."

In his junior year Hendrix met his future wife at one of those parties.  "She was with another guy but he had gone upstairs drinking so the two of us started talking.  Several weeks later we went out again..."  

Hendrix (right) lived in Dorm B (now Rice) when it opened.

His return was marred by tragedy.  At the beginning of Hendrix's second semester, microbiologist Earl Bowen had a heart attack in his office and, in spite of faculty efforts to revive him, he died.

Hendrix's plan of being a marine biologist, changed that day.  The College needed someone to teach microbiology.  "I've been doing it ever since.  It was supposed to be for a couple years, but 40+ years later I'm still here."