Professor Emeritus William Cotton authors memoir

Those familiar with Professor Emeritus William Cotton’s stories encouraged him to write a memoir, so eventually he did.

Recently completed after two years in the making, Cotton’s memoir, “The Setting Sun: A Life’s Adventure,” is available on his website. “Free to anyone up to the challenge of reading it,” Cotton said.

“It is a combination of highlights of my professional life and the crazier things in my life,” he said.

Each of the later chapters begins with Cotton’s science and professional work and moves on to what he calls the “fun stuff.” In addition to a successful career in atmospheric science research and teaching at Colorado State University, Cotton pursued many extra-curricular interests over the years, including sailing, flying planes and even dog sled racing. However, he considers advising students to be the most significant achievement of his career.

Read the full Source article, “Emeritus Professor William Cotton authors memoir.”

Photo at top: After a successful Ph.D. defense, Prof. Cotton would cut his students’ ties, a tradition he adapted from the shirttail-cutting ceremony following a pilot’s first solo flight. Here he is pictured with Sue van den Heever, who is now a professor in the department.