Posted 12:08 p.m. Tuesday, March 29, 2016
‘Beloved administrator’ Carl Wimberly dies.
A man who greatly impacted the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse for more than half of its history — longer than any other university administrator — has passed away.
W. Carl Wimberly died at a La Crosse nursing home Tuesday, March 29. He was 92.
Wimberly came to campus in January 1953 to teach political science for one semester. He took a pay cut to stay the next year, and eventually developed the department’s curriculum.
In 1959, he was named dean of the College of Arts, Letters and Sciences, a position he held until 1973 when he was named vice chancellor following a national search. He served in that role until retiring in 1992.
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Chancellor Joe Gow, center, with former Chancellor Ken Lindner, left, and retired Vice Chancellor Carl Wimberly at the UWL Foundation’s Donor Appreciation event, Aug. 6, 2015.[/caption]
"I always say that we rarely hear the phrase 'beloved administrator,' but that's exactly how everyone referred to Carl,” says UWL Chancellor Joe Gow. “He was an extraordinary human being and one of the most skilled administrators in UWL history. I'm proud to say that he was a mentor to me and will remain my role model. It's so very fitting that one of our major classroom buildings bears his name."
That building was the former North Hall, built in 1974 as a much-needed classroom facility. When the building was renamed by the UW System Board of Regents in 2000, Wimberly was pleased his name was going on the building that housed departmental offices for the social sciences and English, and was home to the College of Business Administration.
“I hope it will also honor all those faculty who served at the same time I did,” he said upon the designation.
Wimberly served under five presidents and chancellors: Rexford Mitchell, Sam Gates, Kenneth Lindner, Noel Richards and Judith Kuipers. He was acting chancellor from 1978-79.
After retiring in 1992, Wimberly remained active with the university until shortly before his death. Over the years, he served on the UWL Foundation’s Board of Directors, including two years as the organization’s president.
The university held a special birthday party for him honoring his 90th birthday in June 2014.
Wimberly was prominently featured in “These Halls of Learning,” a video about UWL buildings and the people behind the names created during the university’s centennial celebration in 2009. In the video, he talked about Maurice O. Graff and Walter Wittich, along with the day in 1959 when he introduced a young senator, Jack Kennedy, to an overflow crowd in Main Hall’s auditorium.
Always humble, Wimberly discussed the honor of having North Hall named for him, and the many other faculty and administrators who served the campus.
Services will be 11 a.m. Thursday, April 7, at First Presbyterian Church. Visitation 5-7 p.m. Wednesday, April 6, and 10 a.m. to services Thursday, both at the church.
View a video of Wimberly's 90th birthday party, which includes greetings from colleagues and area politicians.
Chancellor Joe Gow, center, with former Chancellor Ken Lindner, left, and retired Vice Chancellor Carl Wimberly at the UWL Foundation’s Donor Appreciation event, Aug. 6, 2015.[/caption]
"I always say that we rarely hear the phrase 'beloved administrator,' but that's exactly how everyone referred to Carl,” says UWL Chancellor Joe Gow. “He was an extraordinary human being and one of the most skilled administrators in UWL history. I'm proud to say that he was a mentor to me and will remain my role model. It's so very fitting that one of our major classroom buildings bears his name."
That building was the former North Hall, built in 1974 as a much-needed classroom facility. When the building was renamed by the UW System Board of Regents in 2000, Wimberly was pleased his name was going on the building that housed departmental offices for the social sciences and English, and was home to the College of Business Administration.
“I hope it will also honor all those faculty who served at the same time I did,” he said upon the designation.
Wimberly served under five presidents and chancellors: Rexford Mitchell, Sam Gates, Kenneth Lindner, Noel Richards and Judith Kuipers. He was acting chancellor from 1978-79.
After retiring in 1992, Wimberly remained active with the university until shortly before his death. Over the years, he served on the UWL Foundation’s Board of Directors, including two years as the organization’s president.
The university held a special birthday party for him honoring his 90th birthday in June 2014.
Wimberly was prominently featured in “These Halls of Learning,” a video about UWL buildings and the people behind the names created during the university’s centennial celebration in 2009. In the video, he talked about Maurice O. Graff and Walter Wittich, along with the day in 1959 when he introduced a young senator, Jack Kennedy, to an overflow crowd in Main Hall’s auditorium.
Always humble, Wimberly discussed the honor of having North Hall named for him, and the many other faculty and administrators who served the campus.
Services will be 11 a.m. Thursday, April 7, at First Presbyterian Church. Visitation 5-7 p.m. Wednesday, April 6, and 10 a.m. to services Thursday, both at the church.
View a video of Wimberly's 90th birthday party, which includes greetings from colleagues and area politicians.