In Memoriam
[Kennedy C. "K. C." Brooks]
Kennedy C. "K. C." Brooks, who headed the Atomic Energy Commission Office on the Fermilab site from 1968-1972, died on June 23 in Deland, Florida. K.C. and his wife Jean had been residing in Florida since his retirement in 1972.
Mr. Brooks, a veteran of more than 37 years of Federal service, began his career with the Atomic Energy Commission in 1946. Brooks first joined the Atomic Energy Commission construction program as an engineer in Oak Ridge, Tennessee, where he was involved in the construction of Oak Ridge National Laboratory. Late in 1950 he was transferred to Paducah, Kentucky, where the AEC was beginning construction on its second gaseous diffusion plant. Brooks later served as Area Manager at Paducah. He held this position until 1962, when he was promoted to Assistant Director for Construction and Engineering at AEC Headquarters in Washington, D.C. In 1968 he left Washington to come to Batavia taking the position of Area Manager of what was then known as the 200 BeV Project.
K. C. ended his long career at Fermilab. At his retirement celebration, Robert Wilson described Brooks as "a man of quiet dignity, loved and respected by all who worked with him." He also stated that K.C.'s broad range of experience contributed much to the success of the Laboratory's construction.
In 1972, the main reservoir in the northwestern portion of the Fermilab site was named Casey's Pond in honor of Brooks. This tribute was done in appreciation of the important contribution he made to the Laboratory during the critical period of initial construction.
The respect expressed by Dr. Wilson at K C.'s retirement was mutual. K C. was quoted as saying, "I've certainly been fortunate to end my career on a project such as this. It has been a real privilege to help Bob Wilson build this Laboratory."