The two gavels were presented to the University of Florida Chapter of Sigma Xi by Dr. Harold Hume, Dean of the College of Agriculture on November 21, 1938. https://sigmaxi.clas.ufl.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/154/Gavels.jpgThe wood for the gavels comes from trees indigenous to Florida. The light colored gavel has a head of persimmon (Diospyros virginiana) collected from a tree at the Chinsegut Hill Sanctuary, Brooksville, Florida and a handle of red bay (Tamala borbonia) from Rocky Point Road, Alachua County Florida. It was made by Fred H. Hayes, Drake Memorial Laboratory, University of Florida. The dark-colored gavel was made of magnolia heartwood (Magnolia grandiflora), the head being made of wood from Annuttalaga Hammock, Hernando County, Florida and the handle from wood collected from Chinsegut Hill Sanctuary. It was made by J.F. Hathaway, Refrigeration Engineer in the Deptartment of Horticulture, University of Florida. The gavels were presented to Chapter President P.H. Senn in 1938 and have since been placed in the care of each succeeding chapter president. The names of past presidents are engraved on plaques on the head of each gavel and on the box in which they are stored.