Ernst, Fritz
Person
Biographical Information
Fritz Ernst graduated from high school in Madison, Indiana. He then attended Purdue University, where he was the editor in chief of the Exponent. Ernst graduated in 1900, earning his B.S. in Civil Engineering.
Per his autobiography, "At the time Purdue had a rather rough reputation and they were called "Boiler Makers." I had never been away from home, was rather inexperienced, and just a simple home boy. I went to Purdue at Lafayette, Indiana with fear and trembling, as I thought that every time I went past an alley or around the corner someone would get rough with me and try to hold me up." Ernst rented a room in a house at the corner of Wood and College Avenue for $4.00 a month, and his board included 21 meals, for $2.00 a week.
Ernst worked two years after graduating from Purdue in the editorial department of "Railway Age." He then returned to Purdue as an instructor in railway mechanical engineering. Ernst then joined the Fitzhugh Luther Company, and was later employed at American Steel Foundries as sales engineer in 1907, and rose to the position of vice-president in charge of sales and a director of the company. He was a director of the Chicago City Opera Company, member of the executive committee of the Chicago Association of Commerce, and a director of the Chicago Crime Commission. Fritz Ernst was president of the Purdue Alumni Association from 1945-1948. He was also a member of the executive committee of the board of directors of the Purdue Research Foundation. Fritz Ernst and Wiley J. Huddle of Indiana University are known for finding the bucket used for the "Old Oaken Bucket."
Per his autobiography, "At the time Purdue had a rather rough reputation and they were called "Boiler Makers." I had never been away from home, was rather inexperienced, and just a simple home boy. I went to Purdue at Lafayette, Indiana with fear and trembling, as I thought that every time I went past an alley or around the corner someone would get rough with me and try to hold me up." Ernst rented a room in a house at the corner of Wood and College Avenue for $4.00 a month, and his board included 21 meals, for $2.00 a week.
Ernst worked two years after graduating from Purdue in the editorial department of "Railway Age." He then returned to Purdue as an instructor in railway mechanical engineering. Ernst then joined the Fitzhugh Luther Company, and was later employed at American Steel Foundries as sales engineer in 1907, and rose to the position of vice-president in charge of sales and a director of the company. He was a director of the Chicago City Opera Company, member of the executive committee of the Chicago Association of Commerce, and a director of the Chicago Crime Commission. Fritz Ernst was president of the Purdue Alumni Association from 1945-1948. He was also a member of the executive committee of the board of directors of the Purdue Research Foundation. Fritz Ernst and Wiley J. Huddle of Indiana University are known for finding the bucket used for the "Old Oaken Bucket."
Citation
Ernst, Fritz. Small Town Boy Goes Away to College.1938 Debris. http://earchives.lib.purdue.edu/u?/debris,25733X
Found in 1 Collection or Record:
Fritz Ernst autobiography
Collection — Box: Communal Collections 6, Placement: 09
Identifier: MSA 19
Scope and Contents
This collection consists of Small Town Boy Goes Away To College, an autobiography written by Fritz Ernst: '...just the simple story of the President of the B. Y. P. U. (Baptist Young People Union) of Madison, Indiana, attending Purdue University in his cutaway suit," circa 1896.
Dates:
1896