May 19, 1951
To the Members of the Faculty: Dr. R. O. Skar, Professor of Business Education, a member of the faculty of this college since 1924, passed away Friday evening, May 18, 1951. Funeral services will be held at 2:00 p.m. Monday, May 21, 1951, at the Nazareth Lutheran Church of this city. Burial will be in Greenwood Cemetery. Any member of the staff who wishes to attend the funeral may do so by making arrangements with his administrative head. Any student who wishes to attend the funeral service may be excused from attendance at his 1:05 and 2:05 p.m. classes on Monday afternoon. The flag will be carried at half mast during the half day when the funeral occurs and the Campanile will be played at four o'clock that afternoon as an expression of respect for the long period of service rendered so loyally and devotedly by Dr. Skar. Sincerely yours, J. W. Maucker, President
Minutes of the Faculty Meeting Docket No, 458 (continued) May 22, 1951
The Faculty met at 4:15 p.m. in Gilchrist Chapel on May 22, 1951, with Mr. Pendergraft still in the chair: Mr. Nelson yielded the floor to Mr. Douglas who read the following resolutions concerning Dr. Robert O. Skar.
IN MEMORIAM Dr. Robert O. Skar
"All too seldom does a college faculty have the privilege of including among its members for well over a quarter of a century one possessing in such abundance those admirable and lovable qualities we have learned to associate with Dr. Robert O. Skar; his death is a distinct loss to the Iowa State Teachers College. Rare indeed is the educator whose life encompasses major training in both the classical languages and the applied arts; whose writings range from truly inspired poetry through philosophical analyses of our modern American economy and into the technical realm of the certified and practicing public accountant; whose personality combines the positiveness of accurate thinking and constructive leadership with the warmth, feeling, and true friendship of one whose very life is devoted to Christian living; and whose keen, analytical scholar's mind is balanced well by an innate sense of humor and of propriety. The many students who listened to his characteristically concise, clear explanations and who learned to watch for the equally characteristic twinkle in his eyes, felt both respect and love for Dr. Skar. His devotion to duty and insistence upon the highest of ideals in scholarship and in citizenship were tempered with a considerateness and an understanding of human frailties. Dr. Skar was a truly great teacher. Throughout his many years of service to the Iowa State Teachers College, he gave untiringly of his time in true devotion to his chosen work. As a member of many important faculty committees, his opinion was welcomed and respected. As an author of widely-used textbooks and a frequent contributor to the professional literature of his field of work, he merited and received enviable professional recognition. As a senior member of the faculty he was ever ready to extend a helping hand to those of us who arrived on this campus more recently. His radio program conducted regularly over a period of several years extended the influence of his personality and his clear economic analyses to a much larger community than that of our campus. Dr. Skar exemplified that which is most desirable as a member of a college faculty. The welfare of the individual student ever was uppermost in the thinking of Dr. Skar. His great patience in working with his students and advisees was evident to all who knew him and was to a marked degree responsible for his success in challenging students to higher levels of attainment while endearing himself to them. His influence for that which is good in the lives of our students extended far outside the walls of his classroom. He organized the Golden Ledger as an additional means of bringing the motivating influence of scholastic recognition into the lives of freshmen and sophomore students, and until the present date has been the only advisor and sponsor to whom that group of students has turned. For many years he was an active sponsor for a social fraternity, and his more than a quarter of a century of devotion to and continuous work with the students of the Lutheran Foundation is a record of true service which will never be forgotten. Dr. Skar was a true friend to students. A truly great teacher--diligent and ever helpful as a member of this faculty--a true friend to students and young people--these are among the many memorials which have left their permanent imprint to honor the life and work of Dr. Robert O. Skar. Only a man of character with an inward feeling of Christian security could leave behind the record of tolerance, poise, and goodwill with which he faced the vicissitudes of life. This faculty feels deeply the loss which is ours. We honor highly the record which is his."
Faculty committee: Lloyd V. Douglas Myron J. Wilcox James T. Blanford Mr. Douglas moved and Mr. Hake seconded that these resolutions be spread upon the minutes of the Faculty and that a copy be sent to the family of Mr. Skar. This motion passed unanimously.