Wolsey G. Worcester was born on October 9, 1876 in Oberlin, Ohio. He entered Ohio State University in 1895. After taking time from his studies to serve in the Spanish American War in 1898, he received his degree in Ceramic Engineering in 1899. He worked throughout the United States, designing and supervising construction on three of the largest tile plants in that country between 1902 and 1906; he also designed a plant in Calgary, Alberta in 1912. Later, at the request of the Canadian government, he took part in the development of the western oil fields and moved to Canada permanently in 1919. He joined the University of Saskatchewan in 1921 and established Canada's first Department of Ceramic Engineering. He served as Head of the Department until his retirement in 1946, when he was named Professor Emeritus. One of his most valuable contributions while at the University was helping to develop Canada's refractory mineral resources. Professor Worcester died in 1972 on his 96th birthday.