I actually had a brief acquaintance with the author of this article many years ago. We were both enrolled as freshman at Case Institute of Technology (now part of Western Reserve University) in Cleveland, Ohio. I can tell you that he has an IQ well above 200!

I struggled through four years of math, science and engineering courses and barely managed to graduate. When 300 or so of us assembled in our black robes and "mortarboards" outside of Severance Hall awaiting the start of the graduation ceremony, Donald Knuth stood out from the crowd because he was wearing a gold mantle indicating that he was also receiving his master's degree which he apparently earned in his "spare time". Did I mention that he was the first person in the history of the institution to receive the grade of A in every one of his courses. His picture was prominently displayed on the cover of the next issue of the alumni magazine.

Jerry of

Bev and Jerry