W. Robert Parks
W. Robert Parks (1915-2003), a native of Tennessee, received
his B.A. (1937) from Berea College in Kentucky, an M.A. (1938) from the
University of Kentucky, and a PhD (1948) from the University of Wisconsin. All
the degrees were awarded in political science, with a minor in economics. He has
also received honorary degrees from the University of Kentucky (1973), Bear
College (1966), Westmar College (Iowa) (1968), and Drake University (1968).
From 1940-1948, he was employed in a research and administrative capacity with
the Bureau of Agricultural Economics. During World War II, he also served as a
lieutenant in the U.S. Navy. Dr. Parks moved to Iowa State College and became a
professor of government (1948-1956); a professor of agricultural economics at
the University of Wisconsin (1956-1958), and returned to Iowa State as the Dean
of Instruction (1958-1961). In 1961 he became the Vice President of Academic
Affairs until he was named the President of Iowa State (1965-1986).
During his presidency, Parks served as head of several national organizations,
including the National Association of State Universities and Land Grant
Colleges, the Association of American Universities, Council of Presidents,
Mid-America State Universities Association and the Association of Iowa College
Presidents.
He also served as a member of the board of trustees of the Teachers Insurance
and Annuities-College Retirement Equities Fund and was on the board of directors
of Northwestern Bell and Central Life Assurance. In 1969, he was named an
honorary alumnus of ISU, the second person so honored. He also received the
first Christian Petersen Design Award for his leadership in the establishment of
Iowa State University's College of Design. In 1984, the main library building on
Iowa State University’s campus was named the W. Robert and Ellen Sorge Parks
Library.
In 1940, Dr. Parks married Ellen Sorge (1914-1999), the first woman to graduate
with a PhD (1940) in political science from the University of Wisconsin. They
had two daughters, Andrea (Van Howeling) and Cynthia (Hamilton).
