Plagge, H. J. (Herbert J.), 1884-1972

Herbert J. Plagge was born in Barrington, Illinois, on July 14, 1884, to John C. and Sophia Nordmier Plagge. He received his B. S. (1906) from Northwestern University and his M.A. (1910) from the University of Wisconsin. He joined the Physics Department at Iowa State College (University) in 1909 as Instructor and was promoted to Assistant Professor (1915-1918) and Associate Professor (1918-1965).

Professor Plagge was a dedicated instructor, teaching physics to sophomore engineering students for 57 consecutive years before his retirement in 1965. His main research interests lay in acoustics and sound insulators. During World War II, he served as Acting Physicist (1942) at the Des Moines Ordnance Plant near Ankeny, Iowa.