W. Robert Parks

W. Robert Parks (1915 - 2003) was the 11^th president of Iowa State University.

Education:
*B.A. political science Berea College, Kentucky (1937)
*M.A. political science University of Kentucky (1938)
*PhD political science University of Wisconsin-Madison (1945)

Achievements:
*Research & administration with the Bureau of Agricultural Economics (1940 - 1948)
*Lieutenant of the United States Navy during World War II
*Professor of government at ISU (1948 - 1956)
*Professor of agricultural economics at University of Wisconsin-Madison (1956 - 1958)
*Dean of Instruction at ISU (1958 - 1961)
*Vice President of Academic Affairs (1961 - 1965)
*11^th president of ISU from 1965 to 1986
**Head of National Association of State Universities and Land Grant Colleges
**Head of Association of American Universities
**Head of Council of Presidents
**Head of Mid-American State Universities Association
**Head of Association of Iowa College Presidents
**Member of the board of trustees of the Teachers Insurance and Annuities-College Retirement Equities Fund
**On board of directors of Norwestern Bell
**On board of directors of Central Life Assurance
*Honorary doctorate from Bear College (1966)
*Honorary doctorate from Westmar College (1968)
*Honorary doctorate from Drake University (1968)
*Named honorary alumnus of ISU (1969)
*Honorary doctorate from University of Kentucky (1973)
*Library named W. Robert and Ellen Sorge Parks Library (1984)
*Received the first Christian Petersen Design Award for his leadership in establishing the College of Design

He married Ellen Sorge (1914 - 1999) and had two daughters: Andrea (Van Howeling) and Cynthia (Hamilton). Ellen was the first woman to receive a PhD in political science from the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

References

*W. Robert Parks Papers, RS 2/11, Special Collections Department, Iowa State University Library.