While cleaning out grandparents shed last weekend I found 2 old B&S engines that I'd like to donate for the lab portion of AGSM 201. Any of you have contact info for the current prof? Couldn't find any indication that Darcy is still there and haven't received a response from the AGSM coordinator I emailed.

*Because engines are outdoors.

I asked an AGSM student the other day if Darcy was still there and he looked at me funny. So I took that as a no.

Darcy's last year was 2013 I think. I took 201 in 2010 and 301? (The OSHA course) in 2012 with him. I asked if he would teach the large engines course again as my dad took it back in the 80s when he was a TA for it. He said they hadn't offered it in 10 years or so as there wasn't enough interest plus he was retiring within the next year he told me. Not sure who runs the lab now.

Damn good guy though, I learned a lot in his classes.

Doug Kingman teaches the class now. Aggie c/o 91

Dougkingman {at} tamu.edu

Okay. So I took 201 with Doug. Does that make me old?

LOL. I figured someone here would know him.

I was told they are no longer rebuilding engines. Some BS about alternative energy but that may have changed.

Thanks for the info. Took forever to respond because texags locked my account. I guess engines are offensive to some people

The class has changed a lot over the last couple of years. They were trying to get away from the class being an "easy" elective for some of the ag development type majors

AgySkeet06 said:

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They were trying to get away from the class being an "easy" elective for some of the ag development type majors

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Well damn, I know most people "cheated" and brought in a working mower that they basically just tuned up, but me and my partner for that class? Hell no, he found a free one on the side of a curb that someone was throwing out because it wouldnt run. One of us was gonna walk away with a good as new mower at the end of that course.....or so we thought!

We were the second to last team to finish at the end of the year, I still have nightmares about fixing and putting the carb back together and on the mower. I also am not the most mechanically inclined person so Im sure that contributed to the difficulty. But we got it done and I got an A in the class so it all worked out.

Darcy's AGSM 201 was one of my favorite classes. We had a ton of fun tearing down those mowers. I still have the push mower I rebuilt for the class. Great teacher and all around great guy. I'd hate to hear it's not giving the current students the same opportunity. Dr. Parnell's AGSM 301 left a lasting impression as well but for slightly different reasons! He was tough but a good guy if you got to know him. Good times.

Almost 30 years after I graduated and my mom will still send me pictures or clippings when Calvin Parnell shows up in a farm or industry magazine. I think he made a lasting impression on everyone who 'bought in' with him. Legend.

AGSM 301 was awesome. I took it and later TA'd it with him as well (at least once, maybe twice?).

I think in all I took 4 or 5 classes from Dr. Parnell and all were great. Dr. Shaw and the late Dr. Faulkner were also others that made a lasting impact on me (I also TA'd for both of them).

Man this thread made me go look at the faculty page for the BAEN department. Wow. I recognize a few names, but the only ones I can remember having courses with was Dr. Kenimer and Parnell. I'm getting old.

AgEng06 said:

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AGSM 301 was awesome. I took it and later TA'd it with him as well (at least once, maybe twice?).

I think in all I took 4 or 5 classes from Dr. Parnell and all were great. Dr. Shaw and the late Dr. Faulkner were also others that made a lasting impact on me (I also TA'd for both of them).

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I have memories of AGSM 301 and Dr. Parnell chewing on a golf tee, asking people throughout the class questions, and everybody constantly saying "PASS!". Tough class, but learned a lot!

Might as well jump in on the thread since, well, I've been around forever now.

Centerpole90 said:

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Okay. So I took 201 with Doug. Does that make me old?

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No. The fact that you're old makes you old.

I was a pretty worthless student, but I did enjoy most of my AGSM profs and classes.

"My goal for this class is to return some of the common sense that has been taken from you by all your previous professors." Dr. Calvin Parnell, first day of AGSM 301

and my favorite when I was a TA/RA...

"Be careful what you put your name on. Californians are Nuts!" Dr. Calvin Parnell

dave99ag said:

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Might as well jump in on the thread since, well, I've been around forever now.

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I've been around JUST a little longer than you...

I just had a flashback...why am I sweating?

Wow, that was dead on sir!

This thread prompted a stroll down memory lane and our godawful 440 project

It is officially confirmed, they "no longer utilize used engines for AGSM 201 class"

Glad I took it when I did, got me interested in engines and saved me a lot on maintenance over the years!

Glad I got to take it...I was probably one of the very few from mechanical engineering to ever do it. Great class, great guy, and even remembered my Uncle from 20+ years prior.

Rebuilt the mower I found in the shed of a friends rental house. Ran for years after with a deer antler for a pull handle.

triggerhappy said:

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It is officially confirmed, they "no longer utilize used engines for AGSM 201 class"

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So what do they do in the lab portion now????

I was also fond of how he responded when you gave an incorrect answer "NO, You're wrong, NEXT".

Although I was there when Dr.Parnell still chewed cigars, before he went to the golf tee.

His daughter was having his first grandchild and told him he couldn't hold the baby until he quit chewing the cigars.

shaynew1 said:

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I was a pretty worthless student, but I did enjoy most of my AGSM profs and classes.

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Here here!

TKEAg04 said:

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AgEng06 said:

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AGSM 301 was awesome. I took it and later TA'd it with him as well (at least once, maybe twice?).

I think in all I took 4 or 5 classes from Dr. Parnell and all were great. Dr. Shaw and the late Dr. Faulkner were also others that made a lasting impact on me (I also TA'd for both of them).

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I have memories of AGSM 301 and Dr. Parnell chewing on a golf tee, asking people throughout the class questions, and everybody constantly saying "PASS!". Tough class, but learned a lot!

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Back in my day, Parnell chewed tobacco and cigars. He used to have a nasty coffee mug on his desk that was his cuspidor.

He would come to class with the cigar in his mouth, set the cigar on the table, and proceed to lecture. At the end of class the cigar would go back in his mouth.

Parnell retired last summer. He had a long, full, career. There were a lot of people at his retirement. He will be missed.

Dr. Parnell and Dr. LePori still wander in from time to time to talk. Dr. Gilley retired to Colorado and I talk with him occasionally.

I always enjoy listening to their stories. It's a great department with a long history.

Doug didn't say. I'm curious if it's the energy efficient route someone mentioned earlier.

shaynew1 said:

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I was a pretty worthless student, but I did enjoy most of my AGSM profs and classes.

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This. They were really the only classes I learned things in. Shaw, Parnell, Darcy, Gilley were all great. We'd always see Shaw at Taco Bell after class

Parnell, Coble, Darcy, Kenemar, Sweat and Mr. etc etc etc. Good times for sure. Got to be on the second tractor pull team and go up to Moline to compete. I learned a hell of a lot from Ag Systems, but it was profs like Parnell that helped me go places.

Name slipped my mind, but Dr Ridell was Mr etc etc etc.

triggerhappy said:

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Doug didn't say. I'm curious if it's the energy efficient route someone mentioned earlier.

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Funny we were talking about this, Dr. Kingman sent me an email yesterday. I will ask him.

I would like to post his response but I do not believe it would be appropriate for me to do on a public message board.

The mowers are gone but I believe from the sound of it, the class has been improved and returned to the original intent. It is now a true mechanics class with each lab focusing on different aspects of power, electricity, and hydraulics. He sent me the syllabus and it sounds awesome. The class room and lab seem to better supplement one another.

As someone stated earlier the rigor has been increase to better prepare students for upper level classes. Doing so has cut out the students looking for an easy elective.

Looking at the list of labs I do not believe anyone who took the class previously would be disappointed and Dr. Kingman will be the list of professors ten years from now when current students are having this same discussion