To: University Faculty and Staff From: Howard Knutson, Dean, College of Education DATE: 4 September 1973
Dr. Wray D. Silvey, Professor of Education and Head, Department of School Administration and Personnel Services, died Sunday, 2 September 1973, in a tractor accident on his farm near Warrensburg, Missouri. Dr. Silvey was born at Versailles, Missouri, on 13 March 1912. He earned his Bachelor of Science in Education degree from Central Missouri State University at Warrensburg in 1940, his Master of Education degree from the University of Missouri at Columbia in 1946, and his Doctor of Education degree from the same university in 1950. Dr. Silvey came to the University of Northern Iowa in 1950 as Coordinator of Special Services for the Department of Teaching. The next year he served as Principal of the Campus High School before transferring to the Department of Education. He served in the Department of Education until 1970, when the Department of Education was reorganized into three departments, and Dr. Silvey was appointed to the position of Head of one of the new departments, the Department of School Administration and Personnel Services.
Dr. Silvey was exceptionally well-liked by students and colleagues for his teaching and for his ready wit and concern for and interest in their personal as well as professional well-being. He was past president of the Iowa Personnel and Guidance Association, past president of the Phi Delta Kappa Chapter, and held membership in the American Personnel and Guidance Association and the Student Personnel Association for Teacher Education. He had been extensively involved in research on the scholastic success of diversified occupations students and was the author of a publication entitled "Organizing the Guidance Services in Secondary Schools". During his period of service at the University of Northern Iowa, he taught summer sessions as a Visiting Professor at several universities including Fresno State University, Arizona State University, and Oregon State University.
Dr. Silvey is survived by his wife, Ina Mae (Brown) Silvey, Assistant Professor in the Department of Mathematics, a daughter Phyllis, Mrs. Edgar Hansell of Des Moines, a brother, Dr. Herbert M. Silvey, Director of Research and Examination Services, and a sister, Mrs. Hazel Williams of Versailles, Missouri. Funeral services will be at 1 o'clock p.m. on Wednesday, 5 September 1973 at the First Christian Church, Eleventh and Division, Cedar Falls. Burial will be in Des Moines. A memorial scholarship is being established for Dr. Silvey in the College of Education; contributions may be sent to Dr. Donald Hanson, Department of School Administration and Personnel Services and Chairman of the College Scholarship Committee.