I was well aware of the name of Neil Ashcroft from the go to text (even to this day) on Solid State Physics and reading his papers on calculated superconductivity at high pressure in hydrogen. However, it was a very jolting experience to meet him for the first time at a conference at Pingree Park (now CSU Mountain Campus) in Colorado at a high pressure conference soon after I became an Assistant Professor. I was shocked at how genuinely kind Neil came across and was flattered when he engaged in a conversation about my talk at the conference. I met Neil a few other times after that and my initial impression was always upheld. He was always cordial and interested in what I was doing.

I would like to relay the story that I have told most about Neil to my friends and colleagues. As an Assistant Professor, I considered applying for tenure and promotion a year earlier than the standard at my university. I talked to the head of the Faculty Senate about the procedure and was told that due to many early promotions that were regretted by the University President, I would need “a letter from god himself” to support my tenure case. Also, if I went up a year early and failed I would not be allowed to go up again the year after as was customary and would be terminated. Obviously I was reluctant, but at the recommendation of my advocate, Malcolm Nicol, I was in fact successful in my early tenure request. One of the main reasons? I had a letter of support from Neil Ashcroft. Maybe not “god himself” but close enough.