Robert Parks

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

W. Robert Parks (1915 - 2003) was the 11th president of Iowa State University.

Education:

Achievements:

  • Research & administration with the Bureau of Agricultural Economics (1940 - 1948)
  • Lieutenant of the United States Navy during World War II
  • Professor of government at ISU (1948 - 1956)
  • Professor of agricultural economics at University of Wisconsin (1956 - 1958)
  • Dean of Instruction at ISU (1958 - 1961)
  • Vice President of Academic Affairs (1961 - 1965)
  • 11th president of ISU from 1965 to 1986
    • Head of National Association of State Universities and Land Grant Colleges
    • Head of Association of American Universities
    • Head of Council of Presidents
    • Head of Mid-American State Universities Association
    • Head of Association of Iowa College Presidents
    • Member of the board of trustees of the Teachers Insurance and Annuities-College Retirement Equities Fund
    • On board of directors of Norwestern Bell
    • On board of directors of Central Life Assurance
  • Honorary doctorate from Bear College (1966)
  • Honorary doctorate from Westmar College (1968)
  • Honorary doctorate from Drake University (1968)
  • Named honorary alumnus of ISU (1969)
  • Honorary doctorate from University of Kentucky (1973)
  • Library named W. Robert and Ellen Sorge Parks Library (1984)
  • Received the first Christian Petersen Design Award for his leadership in establishing the College of Design

He married Ellen Sorge (1914 - 1999) and had two daughters: Andrea (Van Howeling) and Cynthia (Hamilton). Ellen was the first woman to receive a PhD in political science from the University of Wisconsin.

[edit] References

  • W. Robert Parks Papers, RS 2/11, Special Collections Department, Iowa State University Library.