I owe Bausch & Lomb an explanation.

In high school, I convinced my Chemistry teacher that my time for that class was better spent at the local community college (Go Flood Wall Tech … Steamers?) learning Calculus, since we didn’t offer it at Portsmouth High and I was first in my family to head off to the hallowed halls of Ohio State to learn Architecture.

Chemistry would have been of marginal use, but Calculus – that was an Engineering school weed-out class.

It worked. He was a pretty good guy.

Before I left, a package was on his desk from Bausch & Lomb with ‘Honorary Science Award’ on it. There were some forms and a medal. He gave it to me and said here – honorary science award for you!

I’m pretty sure it was just a thing that would have required him to fill out forms, submit recommendations, etc, and he just didn’t feel like being bothered. I understand.

Anyway, there was a medal!

When I cleaned out my Dad’s house, in his ‘stuff’ box, along with some rings, jewelry, his Dad’s Masonic pocket knife, was that medal.

Ironically, I now am a professor at an institution whose existence owes itself, in part, to that very Bausch & Lomb. My office is on “Lomb Memorial Drive”. Did I deserve this thing then? Nope! I was a mediocre science student at best in high school. That Calculus class did come in handy, I got an A.