CUNY. He expanded the university from later moved to the War Production Board of the board for about 23 years, Bryant
four senior colleges and a few community before entering the U.S. Army in 1943. was an active participant in its statistical
colleges to 18 campuses. His policy of open In late 1944, he graduated from officer activities. His specialty was the develop-
enrollment was designed to permit all stu- candidate school and was assigned to the ment of practical sample designs, resulting
dents to attend at least one of these col- Pentagon as a statistician. He ended his in a variety of unique national, regional,
leges. The policy was controversial, but he military service stationed at the Middle and local probability samples requiring
believed it was untenable for an all-white uni- Pacific Headquarters in Hawaii, where he innovative approaches. For example, his
versity to be located in the heart of Harlem was involved in assessing the damage of sample designs were used for an assess-
without that community in attendance. and possible value for future use of Pacific ment of reading literacy, measuring
The second example relates to women. Island harbors. housing bias, estimating the number of
Bowker was elected president of The When the war ended, Bryant briefly non-English background children with
Cosmos Club in Washington, which, at the rejoined the Civil Service and then moved limited English-speaking ability, and for a
time, was an all-male club. Members (men) to the University of Wyoming, Laramie, longitudinal study of the early childhood
used the main entrance, and women were as an assistant professor. He went on to learning experiences from birth until kin-
supposed to use a side entrance. One of earn his PhD in mathematical statistics dergarten. He also was very active in the
Bowker’s first acts was to change the bylaws from Iowa State University in 1955 and development of statistical process control
to allow women to become members. become a full professor at the University and disseminated the theory and practice
The New York Times noted that Bowker of Wyoming. While there, he established to a wide variety of industrial concerns
“demonstrated extraordinary vision and the Department of Statistics, the Statistics throughout the United States and abroad,
coverage in promoting access and excellence Laboratory, and the Computing Center, all serving both as consultant and through
in public higher education,” to which we of which he directed. Bryant also served as training corporations to conduct their
can add that he was a promoter of statistics the experiment station statistician in the own in-house programs.
in every way he could be. He will be missed College of Agriculture and was the statisti- Bryant formally retired from Westat in
by all those who knew him and by future cal advisor to the graduate school. 1985, but continued on as a consultant
students and faculty members for his efforts It is interesting to note that the for another 20 years. He was awarded the
in creating a foundation in statistics. University of Wyoming, a relatively small honorary degree of Doctor of Laws by his
institution that did not have a particu- alma mater. He became a member of the
Obituary
larly strong department of statistics, nev- American Statistical Association in 1947
ertheless produced three distinguished and was elected Fellow in 1970. He also
Edward C. Bryant
statisticians who later ended up as close was a Fellow of the American Association
friends and colleagues. The other two for the Advancement of Science and a
Edward C. Bryant, were W. Edwards Deming, a pioneer in member of the Biometrics Society, the
a founder and for- the field of statistical quality control, and American Society for Quality Control, the
mer president of Morris Hansen, the most influential stat- Institute of Mathematical Statistics, and
Westat, passed away istician in the evolution of survey meth- the Institute of Management Sciences.
January 17, 2008, in odology in the 20th century. Bryant’s optimism and fortitude were
Scottsbluff, Nebraska, After 14 years at the University of his hallmark. In 1995, when asked how
at the age of 92. Wyoming, Bryant found he needed to Westat might honor him for his many
The son of home- make a change due to declining health. contributions, Bryant requested a schol-
steaders, Bryant was Encouraged by doctors to find work in arship for a talented graduate student in
born in 1915 in a a lower altitude, he started looking for a
Edward C. Bryant
statistics be funded. Under an agreement
small house near Hat teaching job, but two of his former gradu- with the American Statistical Association,
Creek, Wyoming. He ate students suggested forming a consulting a $2,500 scholarship has been awarded
grew up in a simpler time in a home with- firm to serve the statistical needs of govern- each year and presented at a special ses-
out the modern conveniences we take for ment, business, and industry. So, in 1961, sion during its annual meeting, enabling
granted today: running water, electricity, Westat was born. young people to continue their education
and cars. He worked hard to get an educa- The early days of the company were and contribute to the field. It is no sur-
tion, which was particularly difficult due rocky, with everyone involved making prise that he would choose the recogni-
to his remote location and the challenges personal sacrifices for the endeavor. Today, tion of hard work and talent by a student
of the Great Depression. Remembrances of Westat, with more than 1,900 employees, as a way of acknowledging him.
his early years can be found in his delight- has grown into one of the world’s leading Bryant was a man with incredible tal-
ful autobiographies, Hat Creek and Hard statistical research companies, serving fed- ent and generosity throughout his life,
Times and Out of Wyoming. eral, state, and local governments, as well giving to his family, to Westat, and to the
After earning his master’s degree from as businesses and foundations. It also has statistical profession in general. He will be
the University of Wyoming, Laramie, in activities in many countries other than the missed by all who had the good fortune to
1940, Bryant took his first job as a junior United States. know him and work with him. Survivors
statistician at the Interstate Commerce In addition to serving as president of include his wife, four grandchildren, and
Commission in Washington, DC, and Westat for some 15 years, and as chair five great-grandchildren.
40 AMSTAT NEWS MARCH 2008
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