William Lofland Dudley

In autumn of 1876, Dudley entered the University of Cincinnati. Dudley received a B. S. degree from the University of Cincinnati in 1880. Dudley was a charter member of the Sigma Chi chapter at the University of Cincinnati (Zeta Psi) and went on to serve as the 8th Grand Consul of Sigma Chi Fraternity serving from 1897 to 1899.[8]

He became a demonstrator of chemistry at Miami Medical College in 1879. He was appointed professor of analytic chemistry at Miami in 1880, and received an honorary M.D. degree in 1885.[7]

In 1880, one John Holland of Cincinnati discovered the ability to melt and make castings of iridium by fusing the white-hot ore with phosphorus,[11] and patented the process in the United States.[12] He invoked the help of Dudley in getting rid of the phosphorus, who did so by repeated applications of lime at great heat. This was the first reported method of refining iridium.[13] Dudley then found new applications for iridium, and formed the American Iridium Company with Holland.[13] Dudley filed a patent on his method for iridium electroplating in 1887.[14]

Dudley was credited with discovering that a toxic component of tobacco smoke is carbon monoxide (which poisons the blood by interfering with oxygen's ability to bind to hemoglobin).[15] Dudley rejected the popularly held opinion that cigarette smoke was harmful due to the adulteration of the tobacco, e. g. with opium. His experiments showed the toxic agent to be carbon monoxide, resulting alike from cigarette, pipe, or cigar.[16]

Dudley was one of the first to publish the physiological effects of X-rays along with fellow Vanderbilt professor John Daniel.[6][17][18] A child who had been shot in the head was brought to the Vanderbilt laboratory in 1896. Before trying to find the bullet an experiment was attempted, for which Dudley "with his characteristic devotion to science"[17][19] volunteered. Daniel reported that 21 days after taking a picture of Dudley's skull (with an exposure time of one hour), he noticed a bald spot 2 inches (5.1 cm) in diameter on the part of his head nearest the X-ray tube.[20] His discovery prompted physicians to experiment with x-radiation as a method for hair removal - a method that became popular in the early 20th century, and was soon adopted by commercial practitioners (i.e. salon owners) as well.[21]

In 1909, Dudley hypothesized that the excitation of neon, at the time a recently discovered noble gas, was responsible for the appearance of the aurora borealis. While this was incorrect, his suggestion was widely reported by the media at the time.[22][23]

Picture from the 1897 Tennessee Centennial Exposition

Dudley was a member of the following: the German Chemical Society of Berlin, the Society of Chemical Industry of England, the Chemical Society of London, the American Chemical Society, the American Institute of Mining Engineers, the Engineering Association of the South and the American Association for the Advancement of Science. He was vice-president of the latter in 1889.[6]

In 1886, the Vanderbilt Athletic Association was formed by president W. M. Baskerville. Most Vanderbilt students were members.[25] Early sports played at the school were baseball, cycling, and track and field.[25] For twenty five years, Dudley was president of the organization.[26] Dudley added a running track to the Old Gym in 1895.[26]

Vanderbilt played its first-ever football game (against the University of Nashville) in 1890 at Nashville Athletic Park, winning 40–0. After Nashville challenged Vanderbilt to play a Thanksgiving Day football game, Dudley sent out for the Athletic Association to meet.[25] Dudley took the challenge seriously, feeling the university's pride at stake.[25] To some 150 students in the gym, Vanderbilt athletics historian Bill Traughber notes how Dudley explained "if the challenge were met, a new era of athletics would be created with the game of football."[25]

Elliott Jones

Dudley accompanied the team on all of its trips.[25] "Too much cannot be said about William L. Dudley in connection with early football at Vanderbilt", said first team captain and fullback Elliott Jones. Dudley's picture adorned the wall of Jones' Kansas City office, and when asked who it was he would respond "The best friend of myself and every other student at Vanderbilt."[25]

Dudley was a member of the Intercollegiate Athletic Association of the United States[27] (now the NCAA) and was primarily responsible for the formation of the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Association (SIAA). In March 1888, the Vanderbilt Athletic Association tried to schedule a track meet at Vanderbilt with Southwestern Presbyterian University, Sewanee and Tennessee. Opposition from Sewanee prevented the initial meet,[28] but on December 21, 1894, the SIAA was formed.[29]

In 1907, Dudley replaced Homer Curtiss of the University of Texas on the Rules Committee.[2]

Vanderbilt's football stadiums have been named after Dudley for most of their existence. In 1892, the first Dudley Field was dedicated on October 21, with the first instance of the Tennessee–Vanderbilt football rivalry. Vanderbilt Law School currently resides at the site of old Dudley Field.[25] When a new Dudley Field was built in 1922, the old stadium became known as Curry Field, named for Irby "Rabbit" Curry, a Vanderbilt football player who died in an aerial battle over France in World War I.

Dudley Field in 1922

After many years of success under head coach Dan McGugin and an undefeated 1921 season, Vanderbilt had outgrown its old stadium. Since there was not enough room to expand old Dudley Field at its site near Kirkland Hall, the Vanderbilt administrators purchased land adjacent to the present 25th Avenue South for the new facility. The steel-and-concrete structure cost about $200,000 and could seat 22,600.[30][31] It was the first dedicated college football stadium in the South.[32][33]

In the first game at the new stadium in 1922, against Michigan on October 14, the two teams played to a scoreless tie, which features prominently in the school's history. The stadium's dedication posthumously honored Dudley:

To William Lofland Dudley, Dean of Southern Athletics, scholar, gentleman, and friend, this ground is dedicated, and, as Dudley Field, is consecrated to the use of Vanderbilt and her sons forever.

— Charles S. Brown, Vanderbilt Athletic Association president[34]