Mohsin Annual Report-Final 1-91:Layout 1.qxd - Siemens Pakistan

Foundation (NSF) support. And from that beginning, the Mathematics Departmenthad at least one NSF research grant in Abelian groups every year from 1961 through1985. The biggest single event that put us on the Abelian group theory map wasalso due to John. He suggested that we apply to NSF for support for a conference inAbelian groups. There had never been one in the US. Fuchs was spending the yearin Tulane, and he was "Mr. Abelian Group Theory". We submitted a proposal toNSF, featuring Fuchs as the main speaker. The proposal was funded, and the …rstNew Mexico State University Abelian group theory conference was held in June 1962.The "major participants" are listed in a table below.Major participants at the …rst NMSU conferenceJames Armstrong University of IllinoisRoss Beaumont University of WashingtonGilbert Baumslag New York UniversityDelmar Boyer University of IdahoStephen Chase Princeton UniversityPaul ConradTulane UniversitySpencer Dickson New Mexico StateDonald Dubois University of New MexicoLaszlo FuchsTulane UniversityDavid Harrison New Mexico StateFranklin Haimo Washington UniversityThomas Head University of KansasPaul HillAuburn UniversityJohn IrwinNew Mexico StateSamir Khabbaz Lehigh UniversityGeorge Kolettis Notre DameNancy Lakey University of MarylandHorst LeptinTulane UniversityRonald Nunke University of WashingtonCarol PeercyNew Mexico StateRichard Pierce University of WashingtonJames ReidYale UniversityJoseph Rotman University of IllinoisTi YenMichigan State UniversityElbert Walker New Mexico StateRobert Wisner Michigan State UniversityWith the singular exception of Kaplansky, this list includes every prominentAbelian group theorist in the United States at that time. This conference certainlyspotlighted New Mexico State University in the Abelian group theory world. Thepublication of the proceedings of the conference [1] was another major step in ourrecognition. That proceedings sold out.2