Having attained his seventieth birthday on July 28, 1950, Walter Francis Colby, A.B. '01, Ph.D. '09, Professor of Physics, has become eligible for retirement as of that date under the provisions of the "Bylaws" of the Board of Regents.

In this way a distinguished career as teacher and investigator in the field of physics, which began with his first appointment as assistant in 1906 and has continued, with successive promotions in rank, to the present time, has been climaxed by relinquishment of duties as an active member of the teaching faculty.

Throughout his forty-four years as instructor and professor in the University of Michigan, Dr. Colby has been prominently associated with the group of physicists whose researches in spectroscopy brought their department into international prominence. He has himself added to the sum of knowledge of this subject and by his guidance of advanced students has given impetus to the scholarly careers of many others.

He has given technical service in both world wars, by research in the first and by his membership in an important intelligence mission for the War Department in the second. By his scholarly attainments, his modesty, and his unfailing courtesy, he has commanded the respect and the warm regard of his colleagues and students.

The Regents of the University of Michigan therefore extend to Professor Colby their thanks for his valuable services to this institution and their cordial felicitations upon the attainment of his seventieth birthday. They furthermore confer upon him the title of Professor Emeritus of Physics and invite him to avail himself of all the courtesies customarily extended to emeritus members of the faculty.