Senate Reference No. 02-18

MEMORIAL RESOLUTION

H. WILLIAM DAVIES

1930-2002

On Saturday, March 30, 2002, we lost an esteemed member of the IPFW community,

H. William Davies. Bill Davies retired from the Department of Biology in 1992 after serving 28 years as Professor of Biology and as the Agriculture Dean’s Deputy. Bill was a Korean War U.S. Air Force and Marine Corps veteran and an Allen County Police Department Reserve volunteer.

“Uncle Bill,” as he was affectionately known, was born in Norton, Kansas on August 2, 1930. He received his B.S. and M.S. degrees from Emporia State College in Kansas in 1956 and 1958 respectively. He was awarded the PhD in Botany from Michigan State University in 1966. Bill’s speciality area was phycology, the study of algae. Other certifications of interest that Bill acquired included a Private Pilot License (single-engine with III Class Medical Certificate) issued by the F.A.A. (1981) and a Restricted Radiotelephone Operators License issued by the F.C.C. (1981).

Bill came to the fledgling IPFW campus in 1964 as an assistant professor and was promoted to associate and full professor in 1968 and 1973 respectively. He became chairman of the Department of Biology in 1964, and served in this capacity until 1978 while guiding the Department through the early years of curriculum expansion and faculty growth.

During his time as chairman, the curriculum moved into granting the B.S. and M.S. degrees. In 1964 Bill and three other faculty members made up the department. When Bill stepped down in 1978, there were fourteen faculty members. With all this expansion, offices had to be acquired, new teaching labs created in renovated space, and there was a marathon push to get space for faculty research.

Bill negotiated a lease on the Biology Research Station at Crooked Lake from Indiana University. This facility opened a spot for class field trips and faculty research. Bill enthusiastically constructed a beach at the lakefront to study beach-dwelling algae only to see wave action erode the beach the following spring. As a long-term member of several professional societies, he kept current in his area and brought it to his teaching.

Bill was very student oriented, and his activities extended beyond the classroom. For some time he was the academic advisor for 70 to 80 biology and agriculture students. For many years he was the Ag Club advisor and made one attempt at an ox roast. The Charter for Beta Beta Beta, the national biology honorary society, was acquired through Bill’s efforts. He was active in maintaining all the records and supervised the formal induction of new members. The Biology Club also was under Bill’s wing for many years. Trips were taken and parties were hosted.

Bill was active in campus activities. He served on many committees including some of the building committees and the Senate. Outside the university he served on committees of the Indiana Academy of Science and Central States Universities. His contributions to the department and the university were extensive and his influence is still present.

He is survived by his wife Norma, daughters Diana and Larina, son Wade, his mother, a brother, and two grandchildren.