EX-NASA ENGINEER HAS ALWAYS INNOVATED.

Byline: Bettie Rencoret Senior Columnist

Karl F. Anderson earned accolades through the electronics industry for an electronic circuit-measurement process that bears his name: the Anderson Loop.

``I just looked at the situation from a different point of view,'' said Anderson, now retired from NASA. ``Almost all inventions are the result of someone looking at whatever it is from an entirely new viewpoint, so that's what I did. The Wheatstone Bridge (the former process) was a good tool for a long time, but I felt there had to be a better way. I knew we could save time by getting those measurements right the first time.''

NASA patented the process, but Anderson does share in the income from its use.

``I get a little money for it, but I sure wouldn't want to try to live on it,'' he laughed.

The Anderson Loop is perhaps the most prestigious of his accomplishments, but it is not the only one.

He has two more patents to his credit, both shared with partners. He has also authored or edited virtually all the NASA technical publications, conference papers, magazine articles and user manuals that involve Anderson Loop circuits.

He retired from the National Aeronautics and Space Administration in 1995 after 29 years.

Not ready to hang it all up at 56, he started his own consulting business, called Valid Measurements, which he now operates from his home.

``I'm doing the same thing I've always done,'' he said. ``I also do a lot of computer programming and teaching on how to implement and use the constant current provided by the Anderson Loop. I like what I do. It's rewarding.''

Anderson was raised in Scranton, Kan., and was married there June 4, 1960. He and his wife, the former Sharyl Willows, were born less than a year apart and were high school sweethearts in Scranton.

After graduating from Scranton High School in 1957, Anderson enrolled in Kansas State University at Manhattan. When he graduated in 1963, he had degrees in three areas: engineering, business administration and military science.

He was a member of the Reserve Officers Training Corps and was obligated to do some military service.

He worked about a year right out of college, as an electrical engineer for the Collins Radio Co. of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, on communications for the Apollo program before he entered the U.S. Army Signal Corps.

Accompanied by his wife and young son, Anderson was sent to NASA's Dryden Flight Research Center at Edwards Air Force Base in August 1964.

There he was assigned responsibility for the engineering of all ground research facilities and flight instrumentation systems.

``That was good duty,'' he said. ``There we were, living on the air force base, and I was working for NASA. There was only one flaw in the arrangement - the low military pay scale.''

To boost their income, Anderson taught telemetry at Antelope Valley College.

When his tour of duty was up in 1964, Anderson became one of NASA's civil service employees.

``Things didn't change much. I had the same desk and the same phone number, but we moved into Lancaster with a nice pay increase,'' he said.

He maintains membership in the Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers, Instrumentation Society of America and the Society for Experimental Mechanics. He is especially proud of his membership in the Western Regional Strain Gage Committee.

He and Sharyl have both been very active in the Lancaster United Methodist Church ever since their arrival in Lancaster.

Sharyl Anderson elected to be a stay-at-home mother through all their child-rearing years and both she and Karl agree that their major societal contributions are their children and grandchildren.

Though he is grateful for his recognition and numerous awards, he said, their importance is paled by the reward of a grandchild's hug.

LANCASTER - Registered Nurse Naomi Tanikawa will offer a diabetes education class at 9:30 a.m. Oct. 15 in Antelope Valley Senior Center's Room 101, 777 W. Jackman St.

The class is open to all.

LANCASTER - Sign-ups open Oct. 13 for display tables at the Holiday Boutique, scheduled 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Nov. 6 in the multipurpose room of the Antelope Valley Senior Center, 777 W. Jackman St.

Menus for the week at the senior life nutrition sites in Lancaster, Palmdale and Pearblossom have been announced. All meals include bread and margarine, coffee, tea or milk for the suggested donation of $2.

Monday: Spaghetti with meat sauce, mixed vegetables, tossed salad, orange.

Tuesday: Salisbury steak, mashed potatoes, corn niblets, garden salad, Jell-O with pears.

Wednesday: Roast pork, sweet potatoes, peas, creamy coleslaw, vanilla pudding.

Thursday: Barbecued chicken, rice pilaf, Normandy vegetables, marinated salad, cheesecake.

Friday: Baked fish fillet, au gratin potatoes, pea salad, tossed salad, fruit cocktail, apple juice.

CAPTION(S):

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Photo: Karl Anderson and his wife, the former Sharyl Willows, were born less than a year apart and were high school sweethearts in Scranton. Karl Anderson was sent to NASA's Dryden Flight Research Center at Edwards Air Force Base in August 1964.

Bettie Rencoret/Special to the Daily News