Feb. 7 - Feb. 20, 2013
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stoutonia.com
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Remembering Robert S. Swanson Morgan Pfaller Staff Writer On Monday Jan. 28 students and staff of the University of Wisconsin-Stout received the news that former chancellor Robert S. Swanson had passed away the night before from complications due to Alzheimer’s disease. Swanson dedicated more than 40 years of his life to UW-Stout. After Swanson completed undergraduate and graduate school in the 1940s, he served as a professor and administrator from 1950 to 1972. He also performed as the school’s sixth leader from 1972 to 1988. During that time, Swanson took a small break from Menomonie to serve in World War II for four years. His time as a professor and leader created a strong and vibrant institution and prepared UW-Stout for major growth in the following 25 years. Throughout his time as chancellor, Swanson oversaw major enrollment and academic changes on campus.
“Chancellor Swanson brought UW-Stout into the modern age of higher education,” said Chancellor Charles W. Sorensen, who succeeded Swanson in 1988. “He left his mark all over this campus and this community, and he will be sorely missed.” Swanson even found time early in his career to announce UW-Stout football games from the press box and cheered on the Blue Devils every home game. While he was chancellor, Swanson saw physical changes as the campus expanded from 113 to 118 acres with six new buildings. Some of these include the library, Heritage Hall, Applied Arts, the Memorial Student Center, and the library, which was renamed in his honor in November of 2007. Today the building is known as Robert S. Swanson Library and Learning Center. “He understood and lived by the school’s mission [to train students for professional careers by blending theory and practice],” said Jane Nett, an alumnus of UW-Stout during
Swanson’s time as a leader. “He looked at teaching as an opportunity to learn from students, while teaching them the fundamentals of education.” A private family memorial will be held in Rochester, Minn., but a “celebration of Bob’s life,” will be held at a later date at UW-Stout.
Laura Dohman /Stoutonia
A memorial service and celebration of the life of former Chancellor Robert S. Swanson will be held Saturday, Feb. 16, at University of Wisconsin-Stout’s Harvey Hall Theatre, 721 3rd St. E. The Swanson family will welcome guests beginning at 1 p.m., with a program at 2 p.m. Details of the program will be released later. The service will be streamed live over the UW-Stout website. In lieu of flowers the family requests that memorials in Swanson’s name be directed to Stout University Foundation, Alzheimer’s Association or a charity of the donor’s choice.