Michigan College of Mining and Technology

Arthur V. Sittler was hired by the Michigan College of Mining and Technology in September of 1949 as an assistant professor of German. As was the practice, this appointment began with a probationary period with final confirmation resting with the Board of Control. At the time of his employment it was known that two years before the United States entered World War II he had renounced his American citizenship and became a German citizen. During the war he was active in the German war effort. However, he did not disclose that he was due to be deported on January 1, 1950 and therefore could not complete a year's teaching obligation nor did he disclose that during the war, as a member of the Nazi party, he had engaged in English-language broadcasts of falsified news stories designed to damage the morale of American troops. Based on these facts, the Board of Control failed to confirm Sittler's appointment and dismissed him in November of 1949. Subsequent to his termination, and the end of the treason trials for which he was a government witness, Sittler was denied American citizenship and deported to Cuba in 1954. Sittler later filed a lawsuit against the Michigan College of Mining and Technology, contending that his contract had been broken and that he was owed the remainder of his yearly salary. This suit was found in the college's favor.

Rex R. Seeber, 1879-1957, graduated with a Bachelor of Science and Engineer of Mines degree in 1899 from Michigan College of Mines. Seeber worked for various land and mining companies in the region until his return to Michigan College of Mines as a faculty member in 1922. From 1926 until his retirement in 1948 Seeber headed the Department of Mechanical Engineering. His research focused on the extrusion of copper and as a result of his research the college obtained patents to the process of extrusion of copper fittings used worldwide. Seeber continued to direct the copper fittings research program after his retirement in 1948 until his death in 1957. Seeber was active in the Michigan Tech Foundation, acting as treasurer from 1946-1952 and led the fund-raising efforts for the Memorial Union building at Michigan Technological University.

Almon P. Young, a professor in the Department of Mechanical Engineering, joined the faculty of the Michigan College of Mines in 1930 as an assistant professor holding a Bachelor of Science and Master of Science from Purdue University. Young served as head of the Department of Mechanical Engineering following Rex Seeber's retirement in 1948 until 1963.