Regents History: April 8-10, 1970
Board Membership
- Stan Redeker, President, Boone
- Ray Bailey, Milford
- Casey Loss, Algona
- Thomas Louden, Fairfield
- Ned Perrin, Mapleton
- Mary Louise Petersen, Harlan
- William Quarton, Cedar Rapids
- Donald Shaw, Davenport
- Ralph Wallace, Mason City
Meeting Highlights
John Eckstein was appointed Dean of the UI College of Medicine. Eckstein became the third College of Medicine Dean in as many years, partially owing to “problems facing the College of Medicine regarding finances and services,” as he said during the meeting. Eckstein’s appointment stabilized the college’s leadership for 21 years and when he retired in 1991, the College of Medicine was ranked in the nation’s top 15. The Eckstein Medical Research Building, built in 1988, was named in his honor.
The Board received a report on the University of Iowa’s College of Engineering. Specifically, the report outlined the need for the college to continue as an entity at UI in reaction to the Board’s November 1969 discussion on potentially discontinuing the college due to a predicted drop in enrollment, the small number of degrees awarded, and program duplication. Action was deferred to the May 1970 meeting, where the Board voted unanimously to continue operation of the college. Today, the UI College of Engineering is home to 2,200 undergraduate students.
David Boylan was appointed as the sixth Dean of the ISU College of Engineering, succeeding George R. Town. Boylan led the college for 18 years and directed its expansion in both enrollment and faculty positions. The David R. Boylan Eminent Faculty Award for Research is presented to ISU Engineering faculty for outstanding career achievements in research.
Richard DeMott was appointed as Associate Superintendent of the Iowa Braille and Sight Saving School. DeMott would serve in this capacity until 1977, when he accepted appointment as Superintendent of the school. DeMott was Superintendent of the IBSSS until 1986.
