Clarence Hickman
| Clarence N. Hickman | |
|---|---|
| Born |
August 16, 1889 Farm north of Lizton, Indiana |
| Died | May 7, 1981 (aged 91) Jackson Heights, New York |
| Resting place | Fairview Cemetery, New Albany, Indiana |
| Citizenship | United States |
| Education | PhD, Physics |
| Alma mater | Clark University |
| Thesis | The alternating current resistance and inductance of single layer coils (1922) |
| Known for | Development of the bazooka, Model B Ampico piano, work with rocket pioneer Robert H. Goddard, "Father of Scientific Archery" |
| Notable awards | U.S. Medal for Merit (1948), National Archery Association's Thompson Medal of Honor (1950), Dean Emeritus, The World Archery Center (TWAC), AMICA Hall of Fame (1976) |
| Spouse | Mabel Bigwood Hickman (1891–1965) |
Clarence Nichols Hickman (August 16, 1889 – May 7, 1981) was a physicist who worked on rockets with Robert Goddard. He is known for developing the bazooka man-portable recoilless antitank rocket launcher weapon, and the American Piano Company Model B player piano. He is also known as the "Father of Scientific Archery".
Clarence Hickman was born on a farm established by his grandfather Leak on August 16, 1889. The nearest town was Lizton, Indiana to the south. Clarence and his siblings attended the Leak country school until 1898, when the family moved northward to the Job Hadley farm, where the children attended another country school. In both residences, Clarence pursued an interest in archery, playing with bows and arrows made by his father. By his own account,
The arrows had heavy heads so that we did not need feathers to guide the arrow.... We boys shot fish with bows, using umbrella staves as arrows. I well remember that I could not understand why we had to aim under the fish to hit it. It was not until I attended high school, where I learned about refraction of light, that I understood this phenomenon.
In 1900 the family moved to the Mappen farm, just west of Jamestown, Indiana. While living there, Hickman developed an interest in photography and music. An acquaintance, Stanley Hendricks, owned a photographic studio in nearby Jamestown. Hickman credits Hendricks with "having a profound influence on my life at a later date".
In 1903, Hickman's father bought a 240-acre (97 ha) farm north of Martinsville, Indiana. Prior to that, the family had been renters. Hickman continued to pursue his interests in music and photography, practicing guitar and accepting payment for taking pictures. Hickman completed the 8th grade in 1904, and then took 8th grade again because there was no other school to continue his education. His parents, who wanted their children to be able to attend high school, sold the farm in 1905 and moved to another farm west of Jamestown, where Hickman attended high school. He obtained work as a professional photographer, including work as the official photographer for the Standard Oil Company. He also began working for Stanley Hendricks, who had sold his photography business and opened a clothing store in Jamestown.
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