Harold L. Momberg, professor emeritus of biology at Central Methodist University, died June 17, 2006, at University Hospital in Columbia, Mo., after an extended illness. Momberg, who retired from fulltime teaching in 1994, was a highly popular professor of biology, geology and zoology at CMU, where he became a faculty member in 1970 and had also served as chairman of the Biology and Geology Department. He continued teaching part time for three years after his retirement, when a faculty honors program was named for him – the ODK Harold Momberg Gold Chalk Award for Outstanding Teaching. In 1995, Central Methodist alumni who had studied under Momberg contributed funds to the University to name a room after him in the Athletic Training Department, now housed on the first floor of the new CMU Student and Community Center. Momberg was born March 24, 1929, in Sedalia, Mo., the son of George H. and Mabel Cunningham Momberg. He graduated from high school in Sedalia. He received a bachelor’s degree from Central Missouri State University (CMSU) and his master’s degree and doctorate from the University of Missouri-Columbia. He served in the U.S. Army from July 1951 to June 1953. Prior to joining the Central Methodist faculty in 1970, Momberg taught at HannibalLaGrange College, University of Missouri, William Jewell College, Kansas State Teachers College and CMSU. A resident of Fayette, Momberg attended the First Baptist Church, was a long-time member of the Fayette Rotary Club, and had been a member of the Fayette Optimist Club. He is survived by a sister, Betty Williams; a niece, Susan Lemler; a nephew, Ted Williams; and three great-nieces. Memorials can be made to the Harold Momberg Hall of Sponsors Scholarship at CMU. This scholarship will be used to help a worthy science student attend Central. Currently the Momberg scholarship is just over the $10,000 mark.
s friend to me . . . “Fred was a tremendou morning when I he used to call me every would just chat we s me got to work. Someti help me work and sometimes he would I might be going out whatever problems was a good listener through at the time. He dvise” you. I who didn’t try to “overa supportive and think he was just really was just a matter it helpful and sometimes then saying: and t ven of listening to you This too shall pass. or. He was easy to He was also a great act d to do the best job nte direct because he wa when he was on it, he could onstage, and Whenever I was he dominated the stage. say: Just ring uld wo casting a show, Fred rhorse will come the bell and this old wa running.” Mark Kelty CMU Theatre Director
“My wife Peggy an d I were students of Dr. Momberg’s in 1979 -83. Now, over 20 ye ars later, we still have the texts from his cla ss on the shelf, and my wife who went on to teach biology bases her teaching in part on the methods and sty le he used. I as a me dical executive lead ov er a thousand phys icians and staff, yet both of us can clearl y trace the path to wh ere we stand now. .. even now, she and I have oft referred to the nearly impossible to beat “Momberg multiples” as our ch ildren now study bio logy, and indeed on ly weeks ago I show ed my own high schoo l senior the classroo m where Dr. Momberg taught. We are only one of a vast number of fam ilies and individuals who chose careers and ultimately succeede d due to his persona l attention and enco uragement. Althou gh we have not had th e opportunity to ch at in such a long time, his passing leaves a ho le in the fabric of our lives.” Charles R. Fisher Jr. MD ’83 & Peggy A. (Tyrer) Fis her ’83
mentor and friend, an “Prof. Rhoads was a o went beyond the wh excellent instructor sd his students profe classroom and helpe .” ir goals sionally to achieve the
S. Fred Rhoads, former Central Methodist University faculty member, died July 21, 2006, at Fayette Caring Center after a long illness. Born and raised in Woodward, Iowa, Rhoads had lived in Fayette for the last fifteen years after serving on the Central Faculty for many years. After graduating from Simpson College in Indanola, Iowa, with a degree in speech and drama, Rhoads served two years as a member of the armed forces. He was stationed in Japan during the Korean Conflict. He then attended graduate school at the University of Iowa where he recieved his Masters of Arts. In 1964, he accepted a position as director of theatre and professor of speech and drama at Central Methodist College. During his tenure as director, Rhoads was instrumental in establishing the Little Theatre. In the early 1970s, he attended the University of Missouri while continuing to teach, completing all but the dissertation toward the doctorate. Rhoads retired from Central Methodist in the mid-70s because of severe health problems. He later entered an order of monks associated with the Episcopal Church but withdrew because of his health before completing the probationary period. After a brief period spent in his hometown, he moved back to Fayette in 1992. In 2000, Rhoads returned to the classroom at Central Methodist as an adjunct professor of speech and taught each semester thereafter until his health further deteriorated. He directed and appeared in several dramatic productions at the University, completing his last performance in the Spring of 2006. An avid collector of Hummel figurines and an ardent fisherman, Rhoads was a member of the American Legion, the Veterans of Foreign Wars, the Elks, and the Fayette Area Community Theatre. Survivors include a daughter, D’Ann Wade; two grandsons, Dylan and Morgan; numerous cousins and innumerable friends.
Judith Rethwisch ’65
“Prof. Momberg and I had great difficulty during my first year at school since I was just off the airplane ride from Tokyo, Japan and spoke only few words of English in the Summer of 1977. Despite our language barrier, he knew where to lead me and eventually encouraged me to go into Medicine. He even found me a medical school which accepted foreign students...” Akio Oiso, M.D., FAAP, ’81
Fall 2006
The Magazine of Central Methodist University
The Talon
37