From the EAHB Archives

From time to time, we will revisit stories, milestones, and traditions from across the history of the EAHB-SIG. This section offers a space to look back at the people, events, and moments that have helped shape the community we know today.

A Brief (and Undoubtedly Incomplete) History of the EAHB SIG Fez

This account is based on a review of the printed editions of the Experimental Analysis of Human Behavior Bulletin (through Volume 16 Number 1 published in Spring 1998) and the recollections of several past editors of the Bulletin: Michael Perone (West Virginia University, who served with Philip N. Case, 1985-88), Carol Pilgrim (University of North Carolina-Wilmington, with Mark Galizio, 1989-91), Kathryn Saunders (University of Kansas, with William McIlvane, 1991-94), and Dean C. Williams (University of Kansas, at various times with Thomas S. Critchfield, John Crosbie, and Cloyd Hyten, 1994-97).

The fez that has come to be associated with the Experimental Analysis of Human Behavior Special Interest Group was result of a whimsical reaction by Dean C. Williams and Kathryn Saunders (University of Kansas) to an insignificant but amusing administrative error that occurred when responsibility for the SIG’s financial assets was transferred from William F. Buskist (Auburn University) to Philip N. Chase and Michael Perone (West Virginia University) in 1985.

          Bill was the first editor of the Experimental Analysis of Human Behavior Bulletin; he was responsible for five issues -  Volume 1 Number 1 in Spring 1983 through Volume 3 Number 1 in Spring 1985. The editor’s job included additional service to the SIG: collecting membership dues, managing membership lists, paying to have the Bulletin printed, and so forth. When Bill’s term as editor ended, he conveyed the SIG’s assets to Phil and Mike by check. This was probably around June 1985.

          Mike opened a checking account at First Federal Savings and Loan, conveniently located two blocks from campus (this was at a time when customers frequently conducted business in-person inside their banks). It was a personal checking account – things were managed casually back then – but the checks were imprinted with the SIG’s acronym: EAHB SIG. A few weeks later, a form letter from the bank arrived. It was addressed to “Eahb Sig” and the salutation read “Dear Mr. Sig.” This amusing development made a good story that was shared among members of the SIG and eventually memorialized in “Phil’s Fun Facts” in Phil and Mike’s last edition of the Bulletin (p. 28, Volume 6 Number 2, Fall 1988): “Which member of our group received a letter from a bank addressed ‘Dear Mr. Sig?’ Answer: Mike Perone, who opened a checking account under the acronym EAHB SIG.”

The fez headgear that is part of the SIG’s annual business meeting was purchased by Dean and Kate at an antique store in Pittsburg, Kansas, circa 1988. Dean intended for the SIG’s coordinator to wear the fez during the meetings. Beyond this ceremonial role, the fez served an important function for the SIG when it was passed around the meeting room to collect donations to pay for the beer that was being consumed by the SIG members in attendance.

The purchase of the fez inspired Dean and Kate to think of Mr. Sig – soon to be renamed “Dr. SIG” – as a man wearing a fez. A cartoon rendition of  Dr. SIG (reprinted here) appeared in several issues of the Bulletin in the mid-to-late1990’s. The first was on p. 24 in Volume 12 Number 1 (Spring 1995), which was edited by Dean and Thomas S. Critchfield (then of Auburn University) in a boxed section headlined “MESSAGES FROM DR. SIG!” The cartoon also appeared in

·       Volume 14 Number 1 (Spring 1996, p. 14, “DR. SIG THANKS OUTGOING EDITORIAL BOARD MEMBERS”);

·       Volume 15 Number 1 (Spring 1997, p. 5, “MESSAGES FROM DR. SIG”);

·       Volume 15, Number 2 (Fall 1997, p. 29, “Message from Dr. SIG: Change of Power”); and

·       Volume 16 Number 1 (Spring 1998, p. 17, “MESSAGES FROM DR. SIG.”

These appearances were preceded by at least one reference to Dr. SIG without the cartoon: On p. 20 of Volume 12 Number 2 (Fall 1994) there is a boxed section that begins, “Note from Dr. SIG to other Faculty SIG members…”

It seems that Dean was the first to publish references to “Dr. SIG.” He and Kate also arranged for the creation of Dr. SIG’s cartoon image, which was prepared by a graphic artist at the University of Kansas Parsons Research Center. At their request, the artist added the image of a fez to a character that Kate found in the “Mary Worth” syndicated comic strip. Dean and Kate believe the cartoon was created sometime after 1986, even though it did not appear in the Bulletin until 1995.

Mike Perone

July 14, 2026