Passing on the Favor in Gratitude to Charlie Hanks

Math alumnus Stephen Corcoran, above, and former Department
Chair Charles Hanks both served in the Coast Guard.

As Stephen Corcoran (Mathematics, B.S., ‘69; M.A., ‘75) tells the story, Charles Hanks was a strong presence in the Cal Poly Mathematics Department. He also played a significant role in Corcoran’s life beyond Cal Poly.

Corcoran came to Cal Poly as an aeronautical engineering major. All engineers took the same two-year calculus progression ending with Hanks’ differential equations course, MATH 318. Along the way, Corcoran also took linear algebra just for fun, and it hooked him on mathematics. He never looked back, not even to tell the Aeronautical Engineering Department that he was changing majors. 

“The deeper I got into mathematics, the more I enjoyed it,” Corcoran said. 

Though Corcoran didn’t use much math in his 26-year career in the Coast Guard — except for programming in COBOL when he improved the payroll system that paid reservists — Hanks, who was a captain in the Coast Guard Reserve, still influenced Corcoran’s career considerably. 

Corcoran joined the Coast Guard directly after graduation, then left in 1974 and decided to return to Cal Poly to pursue his master’s degree. To enroll, he needed approvals from the dean of the college and the Mathematics Department chair, which at the time was Hanks. When Corcoran presented himself, Hanks chewed him out for leaving the Coast Guard, approved his admission and offered him a job teaching agricultural mathematics. 

“Better than that, it just doesn’t get,” Corcoran said.

Corcoran finished his master’s degree and began working for the Burroughs Corporation selling computer systems to financial institutions in San Francisco. He often saw Captain Hanks, who came to the Bay Area for his weekend reserve duty. 

One weekend Hanks told Corcoran, “Make something out of your life, Corcoran. Go back in the Coast Guard.” 

Corcoran told him, “I applied and was rejected. I was just one of too many lieutenants with sea service seeking recall.”

Captain Hanks said, “Try again.” When he reapplied, the Coast Guard found it needed Corcoran. He suspected Hanks had something to do with their change of opinion.

This close relationship between faculty and students and the down-to-earth practicality that Hanks embodied define the Cal Poly experience for Corcoran. 

“The professors have their feet on the ground and make things real life,” Corcoran said. “We never had 300 students in an amphitheater class. To the extent possible, the Mathematics Department added enough sections to satisfy the need. If seats were needed for 300 students, somehow the department opened 10 sections. The students got the attention they deserved.”

When Corcoran attended Cal Poly, state funding for higher education was substantial, and college was the free education California was promising. Full-time tuition was $45 for fall quarter and $15 for spring. The difference was a sports fee for fall. Seeing how much state funding has decreased, he wanted to help students today who face much higher tuition costs.

“It’s no longer an education for all situation in California,” Corcoran said. 

When Corcoran learned of the Hanks Scholarship, he decided to change his annual contribution from a general contribution to the Mathematics Department to one Hanks Scholarship each year.

“It felt more satisfying to contribute to a particular individual,” Corcoran said. “It’s important to fund the Mathematics Department because of its foundational nature: the department supports the whole university, but there aren’t enough mathematics graduates to make as significant a financial impact as would be desirable. I decided if I could directly help one student, I would better appreciate the impact of my contribution.

“When it came down to putting numbers on paper, I decided to change it to two scholarships and perhaps pleasantly surprise someone. I did not know then that Dr. Hanks’ widow Marjorie had passed and the Mathematics Department was concerned for the future of the Hanks Scholarship. For the next five years at least, we will have two scholarships in Charlie Hanks’ name.”

Hanks’ generosity continues to inspire Corcoran.

“Charlie helped me along the way, likely more than I can know,” he said. “Perhaps I can continue the favor in his name and spirit.”

Supporting Mathematics Students

If you'd like to support mathematics students with a scholarship or a gift to the department, you can contact Morgen Marshall, senior director for advancement and external relations, or make a financial donation.