Former Hesston College
president dies
HESSTON - The third president
of Hesston College, Roy D. Roth, died Dec. 15 in Eugene, Ore., following a long
illness. Roth, president from 1951-59, died at the age of 84. "President
Roy Roth served with a lot of dignity," Hesston President Howard Keim
said. "He did much to strengthen the academic programs of the college. And
he shepherded the discussions of whether Hesston should become a four-year
college and the decision to remain a two-year college. That has been a very
important decision in the life and history of the college."
Other accomplishments by Roth
included strengthening transfer agreements with Goshen (Ind.) College,
completion of Charles Hall, the start of construction of a men's dormitory (now
known as Erb East) and sharing in the cost of building Hesston Mennonite
Church, which was dedicated May 27, 1956.
Justus Holsinger, academic
dean during Roth's tenure, said Roth brought youth and vitality to the Hesston
College campus.
"As his academic dean
(1953-59), I appreciated his strong emphasis on quality teaching," Holsinger
said. "He was a great teacher, and students still remember him as one of
their best teachers. He and (his wife) Carolyn identified well with students
both on and off campus. A number of later improvements originated during his
administration, one of which was the improvement of the general education
program."
Roth and his wife Carolyn
frequently entertained students in their home. The late Mary Miller wrote in
the college's 50-year anniversary history book, "A Pillar of Cloud,"
"To promote a genial, family-type fellowship among students, faculty,
parents and friends, President and Mrs. Roth maintained a practically
continuous open house. ...Like his home, his office and time were open to
callers."
A celebration of life is
planned for 2 p.m. today at Wesley United Methodist Church in Eugene. Keim will
attend the services.
Survivors include his wife
Carolyn, three daughters and a son, a brother and a sister, six grandchildren
and one great-grandchild.
Roth, a graduate of Goshen
(Ind.) College, received a bachelor of divinity degree from Goshen Biblical
Seminary and a master's degree in theology from Princeton Theological Seminary.
Before coming to Hesston
College, Roth was pastor of Pleasant Hill Mennonite Church in East Peoria,
Ill., from 1944 to 1951. After his time at Hesston, Roth was a music teacher in
Siletz (Ore.) schools from 1959 through 1970. During the same period, he served
as pastor of Logsden (Ore.) Mennonite Church. Roth also served as associate
professor of church music at Eastern Mennonite Seminary from 1972 to 1986, and
was minister of music and pastor of the elderly at Harrisonburg (Va.) Mennonite
Church.
