[Boiler Plate]

I graduated in 1982 at Purdue University. It is possible that he was given to eastern thought but he never mentioned anything quite so elaborate as the S Matrix or Hardon Bootstrap theories you mentioned. He just simply stated that in his research as a quantum physicist there seemed to be an unending search for the fundamental building blocks of the universe.

[snarks_when_bored]

If you graduated in 1982, your prof would have been educated in the late 1960's to middle 1970's, I'd guess...just the time for him to been taught by S-matrix theorists. I predict that if you ever see him again and ask him about his early influences, S-matrix theory would be a big one. If you ever do that experiment, I'd be interested in the outcome, so let me know, okay?