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Show CHAPTER VI RELIGIOUS AND FAMILY LIFE--THE FAITH OF A SCIENTIST Eyring's devotion to theoretical chemistry is matched, as we shall see, only by his profound religious faith and love for his family. The move to Wisconsin in the late 1920's was not only important in the de- velopment of his scientific career, but it added new dimensions to his family life. At a Christmas eve party for Mormon students in l927, he was introduced to his wife to be, Mildred Bennion. She was on leave from the University of Utah where she was chairman of the women's phyical education program. Both were attracted to each other from the be- ginning even though Miss Bennion felt Eyring was much more interested in chemistry than in her. He walked her home that night, but he did not call upon her again until the spring of l928. But from then on they dated frequently and since Eyring had no car they canoed on Lake Mendota in Madison. Miss Bennion and Izetta North, who had come to Wisconsin with her to study, had decided earlier to attend summer school at C0- lumbia University at the end of the regular school session. When Eyring proposed marriage, they decided it would still be best to carry out these plans and be married later in the summer. Mildred Bennion and her companion went to New York City and Eyring remained behind to work in the laboratory. Eyring arranged to meet his wife to be on August 24 in Chicago where they were to be married the next day by the mission president of their |
