In 1958, MIT student Oliver Smoot measured the Harvard Bridge using his body, resulting in the unit "smoot," which is still marked on the bridge today. His measurements, marking five feet seven inches, are used by local police for traffic incident location markers. Smoot later worked in technology standards and policy, ultimately serving as chairman of ANSI and president of ISO. Reflecting on his fraternity initiation task, he recalled the need for secrecy during the night painting and the humorous escape from police questioning.
The resulting unit, the "smoot," remains visible on the bridge today, with its markings repainted annually. Local police even use these markings to pinpoint locations of traffic incidents.
After holding various roles, Smoot served as chairman of the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) from 2001 to 2002 and later as president of the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) from 2003 to 2005.
Smoot looking back recalled how fraternity leaders assigned him the task, and he and his friends carried it out the next day, necessitating painting on public property at night.
Smoot expressed relief about not being caught by the police in the middle of the bridge, noting that it would have been a long run.
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