Retired Professors Greet Alumni Through Videos
In the spring of 2021, Dr. Jim Augsburger contacted retired faculty and administrators who were at Heidelberg in the late 1960s and asked them to record video messages addressed to alumni. We are pleased that we have 10 such videos to share with you. Steve Sterrett edited each of the videos. You can access the videos from this website, as well as the websites for Heidelberg University alumni and for the Class of 1971.
DAVID BAKER, PROFESSOR OF BIOLOGY
Dr. Jim Augsburger narrates a tribute to David Baker, professor emeritus of biology at Heidelberg University, who died in April 2021. Dr. Baker taught at Heidelberg from 1966 to 1999 and was the founder of the university’s National Center for Water Quality Research. He continued to be active with the center until shortly before his death.
GEORGE BARLOW, PROFESSOR OF BIOLOGY
George Barlow, retired professor of biology at Heidelberg University, sends greetings to members of the university’s Class of 1970 as they prepare to celebrate their 50th anniversary of their graduation. Their class reunion has been delayed by one year due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
RICHARD CORDELL, PROFESSOR OF CHEMISTRY
Professor Richard Cordell taught chemistry for 40 years at Heidelberg University. Now retired in the Pacific Northwest, he summarizes his career at Heidelberg and sends his greetings to the hundreds of alumni who took his chemistry courses.
JIM GETZ, PROFESSOR OF PHYSICAL EDUCATION
AND ATHLETIC DIRECTOR
Jim Getz held many titles during his long career with Heidelberg University, including coach, professor, athletic director and interim president. Now retired, he sends his greetings to Heidelberg alumni as the university prepares for class reunions in June 2021.
PHILIP HARNER, PROFESSOR OF RELIGION
Philip Harner, professor emeritus of religion at Heidelberg University, greets alumni in the spring of 2021. He was on the university’s faculty from 1962 to 1997 and taught religion courses and first and second year Greek. He is grateful for his career at a liberal arts college. He and his wife live in a retirement community in Pennsylvania.
PERCY LILLY, PROFESSOR OF BIOLOGY
Percy Lilly, professor emeritus of biology at Heidelberg University, greets alumni in the spring of 2021 and reviews his teaching career. He discusses the course, “Ecology of Unusual Habitats,” that involved a 10-day field trip in rural West Virginia and was taught from 1970 to 1993.
JAY MANN, PROFESSOR OF MUSIC
Professor Jay Mann taught choral music at Heidelberg University from 1969 to 1997. Now retired in Colorado Springs, Colo., he shares with alumni his teaching experiences and memories of choral performances. Particularly memorable was the time the Concert Choir was stuck in a snowstorm in upstate New York.
ROBERT OLESON, DEAN OF STUDENTS
Robert Oleson, retired dean of students and of alumni relations at Heidelberg University, reflects on his long career and his interaction with students, particularly in the late 1960s and early 1970s. His remarks were recorded in March 2021.
CATHERINE THIEDT, PROFESSOR OF MUSIC
Catherine Thiedt, professor emeritus of music at Heidelberg University, prepared a greeting for alumni in April 2021. Her statement is read by Emma (Bentzel) Augsburger, a former student of Dr. Thiedt and a member of the Class of 1971. Dr. Thiedt credits the students in her music theory class with welcoming her when she joined the faculty in 1968 and helping her begin a long career at Heidelberg.
RUTH WAHLSTROM, PROFESSOR OF ENGLISH
Professor Ruth Wahlstrom joined the Heidelberg University faculty in the English department in the fall of 1969. She eventually served as department chair. In this video, Professor Wahlstrom addresses alumni from the late 1960s and the 1970s as she recalls fondly nearly three dozen faculty colleagues from those years. Photos of those professors are a highlight. The video leads viewers on a wonderful trip through the past that will bring back many memories.
Heidelberg '71 