William O. Farber
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| William O. 'Doc' Farber | |
| Born | July 4, 1910 Geneseo, Illinois |
|---|---|
| Died | March 24, 2007 (aged 96) |
| Occupation | Professor emeritus |
| Parents | Charles W. and Hulda Ogden Farber |
William Ogden 'Doc' Farber (July 4, 1910 – March 24, 2007) was an influential professor at the University of South Dakota. Proteges including Tom Brokaw, Al Neuharth, and Pat O'Brien all credit much of their success upon the teachings of "Doc" Farber.
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[edit] Early life
William O. "Doc" Farber was born on July 4, 1910, in Geneseo, Illinois, the oldest of four sons of Charles W. and Hulda Ogden Farber.
Farber graduated from Geneseo Public High School in 1928 as valedictorian. In 1932, he received a B.A. cum laude and Phi Beta Kappa from Northwestern University, Chicago. He continued on at Northwestern for another year while he earned his M.A. and distinguished himself as a Harris Scholar. In 1935, Farber completed his formal education when he received a Ph. D from the University of Wisconsin, Madison.
[edit] Career at USD
Farber began his career as a professor of political science at the University of South Dakota ("USD") in 1935. He accepted a chairmanship at North Dakota State University in 1937, but returned to USD the next year, where he served as chair of the Department of Government (now the Department of Political Science) for 38 years.
During his tenure at the University of South Dakota, he founded several organizations dedicated to advancing research in government. Doc Farber created the University's Government Research Bureau and founded the South Dakota Legislative Research Council, serving as its first director. In addition, Doc served as chair of the Vermillion City Planning Commission and was a leading member of South Dakota's Constitutional Revision and Local Government Study Commissions.
In addition, to these, he served many roles outside of the University setting including:
- served in the Office of Price Administration;
- as a warrant officer with the U.S. Army Air Force serving in the Pacific theater during World War II;
- on the Regional Loyalty Board,
- on the U.S. Civil Services Commission;
- as a minority counsel for the United States Senate Subcommittee on National Security and International Operations (chaired by Sen. Henry M. Jackson)
- as secretary of the North Atlantic Assembly's Committee on Education and Cultural Affairs
Farber was the author of a number of articles and books.
Farber's greatest attention was bestowed upon his students. He encouraged all his student to consider lives of public service, and to expand their horizons beyond their current surroundings, the Great Plains of South Dakota. His home at 413 East Clark was the original Farber Hall, where he challenged his students to "look beyond the horizons of the Great Plains, to take their place in the wider world as well as in their hometowns and counties on the prairie."
[edit] Retirement and late life
Doc retired from teaching in 1976.
In 1997, members of the USD community and the South Dakota Board of Regents established the W.O. Farber Center for Civic Leadership. The center's program focuses developing leadership skills.
In 2002, Gov. Bill Janklow, one of Doc's former students, dedicated a life-sized bronze statue in front of USD's historic Old Main in recognition of Doc's lifelong leadership and accomplishments. Sen. Larry Pressler, a former student and one of six Rhodes Scholars who studied under Doc, provided key support to the Farber Intern and Travel Fund activities in Washington, D.C. After the renovation of "Old Main", the lecture hall was also re-dedicated as Farber Hall.
On October 20, 2004, Doc Farber was made an honorary member of the International City/County Management association at its annual meeting in San Diego.
Doc Farber died at 2:10 a.m., Saturday, March 24, 2007, at Sanford Health Respite Care Center, in Vermillion, South Dakota at age 96. He was buried on April 2, 2007 at the Oakwood Cemetery in Geneseo.
[edit] Legacy
Throughout his life, Doc Farber provided resources for students to continue travel and public leadership.
Doc was instrumental in creating the Government Research Bureau at USD, and the South Dakota Legislative Research Council.
To help students travel abroad and participate in internships, the Farber Internship & Travel Fund was established.
Doc Farber's greatest legacy is the students who continue to benefit from his advice and tutelage. His closest students are known affectionately as "Farber Boys". Famous "Farber Boys" include Tom Brokaw and Al Neuharth.
[edit] Writings
- Footprints on the Prairie: The Life and Times of W. O. Farber. Rapid City, SD: Chiesman Foundation for Democracy, 2005.
- Government of South Dakota (with Thomas Carlton Geary and Loren M Carlson). Vermillion, S.D.: Dakota Press, 1979.
[edit] References
- Sioux City Journal Obituary of William O. 'Doc' Farber Retrieved March 31, 2007. [1]
- Argus Leader (Sioux Falls, SD) March 25, 2007 page 1A and 10B
