THE LAST FIFTY YEARS by J. D. Long
(From Biology Department Newsletter, 1994)
The review of the history of the biology program at Sam Houston in earlier Newsletters had gotten, with the last issue, to the time of Dr. S.R. Warner's initial retirement in 1947. Dr. Robert Livezy who had joined the faculty a year earlier, assumed the directorship of the biology program in 1947 but resigned from the faculty in 1949 to accept a teaching position at Notre Dame University in Indiana. At President Harmon Lowman's request, Dr. Warner returned to the active faculty and began to seek additional teachers and a new person to direct the biology program. By 1952, the faculty was increased to six members, Frank A Cowan had become departmental director and Dr. Warner retired for the second and final time.
As indicated in previous Newsletter issues, Warner's influence continued over a long span of years and the quality of biology instruction at Sam Houston reflects the impact he had on our program. Dr. and Mrs.Warner continued living in Huntsville until their deaths in 1976. After retirement, he was on the campus often and came to be known and admired by several succeeding generations of students and faculty.
In 1953, Mr. Cowan suffered a severe heart attack and died in his sleep. Dr. William K. Clark succeeded to the directorship on this occasion, continuing in this role until 1962. Dr. James D. Long served as director until 1972 when Dr. John R. Hilliard became chairman. Dr. Maynard Yoes, who replaced Dr. Hilliard in 1974, held the chairmanship until he was replaced by Dr. Darrell D. Hall in 1981. Dr. Andrew A Dewees has occupied the position of chair since 1983. Dr. Everett Wilson served as Dean of the College of Science from 1965 until 1979 . In the late 1960's, enrollment at Sam Houston first reached five digit numbers.
Faculty involved in the biology program increased to eighteen by 1970 and has remained close to that number ever since. It seems inappropriate to make biographical comments about faculty still active with the program today. The list of individuals below does cite all of those who have held positions with the program at some time during the last fifty years.
POST WW II SHSU BIOLOGY FACULTY (to the Present, Spring 1995)
Longino, Grace - 1948 - 1955
Sparks, Albert K. - 1949 – 1951
Cowan, Frank A. - 1949 - 1953
Dacres, William G.- 1949 - 1956
Mcleod, Claude A. - 1949 - 1979
Clark, William K. - 1952 - 1964
Thornton, Wilmot A. - 1954 - 1961
Buchanan, G. Dale - 1956 - 1958
Flados, Norman D. - 1958 - 1966
Stewart, Robert B. - 1958 - 1959 & 1965 - 1994
Long, James D. - 1959 - Present
Moskowitz, George - 1959 - 1960
Whitson, Charles - 1961 - 1971
Lasater, John - 1962 – 1985
Wilson, Everett D. - 1962 - Present
Yoes, Maynard - 1962 - 1987
Potter, Floyd - 1963 - 1970
Foerster,Harold - 1964 - Present
Horne, David - 1964 - 1971
Thomas, Ruth B. - 1964 – 1991
Hall, Darrell D. - 1965 - Present
Hoage, Terrell R - 1965 - Present
Meade, Thomas G. - 1965 – Present
Sundman, Jack - 1965 - 1966
Black, Homer S. - 1966 - 1968
Sawa, Takashi - 1966 – 1969
Brown, Dwight - 1967 - Present with Geology
Dewees, Andrew - 1967 - Present
Hilliard, John R - 1968 - Present
Moldenhauer, Ralph R - 1968 - Present
*Prince, Wayne - 1968 - 1974
DeShaw, James R - 1970 – Present
Hinderstein, Barry - 1971 - 1975
Smith, Roberta H. - 1973 - 1974
*Phelps, Robert - 1974 - 1979
Minor, Karen - 1977 - 1979
*Rutledge, Jerry - 1979 - 1981
Barber, Susan - 1979 - 1982
Turner, Jack - 1980 - 1983 & 1987 - Present
Ward, John M. - 1980 - 1981
*Smith, Leanna - 1981 - 1990
Gary, Michael- 1982 - 1983
Warnock, Michael- 1982 - Present
Bruns, Dale A. - 1983 - 1984
Herron, Rex C. - 1984 - 1885
*Rose, Lori - 1990 – Present
Bagdonas, Karolis - 1990 - Present
Hudson, Joan Nester - 1991 - Present
Thies, Monte - 1992 - Present
DeVore, Melanie - 1993 - Present
Kurtz, Harry - 1994 - Present
Phillips, Ted - 1994 - Present
* Freshman Biology Laboratory Coordinators
A Member of the Texas State University System