University Commencement Program

1991: Raymond P. Baker, Doctor of 2000: John Vincent Atanasoff, Doctor for more than half a century; DAC recipient
Humane Letters. B.S., 1935, Iowa State; of Science. M.S., 1926, Iowa State; with in 1999.*
director of research at Pioneer Hi-Bred the help of graduate student Clifford Berry,
International Inc. designed, assembled and demonstrated 2003: Joanne Eicher, Doctor of Humane
the first electronic digital computer, the Letters. Played a key role in developing an
1992: Norman Borlaug, Doctor of Humane Atanasoff-Berry Computer, in the basement understanding of and respect for African
Letters. 1970 Nobel Peace Prize recipient for of Iowa State University’s Physics Building; textiles in this country.
work in developing wheat varieties. he remains an inspiration to generations
of Iowa Staters with his legacy of inquiry 2006: Vance Coffman, Doctor of Science.
1993: Thorton A. Wilson, Doctor of and excellence in the physical sciences and B.S., 1967, Iowa State; widely respected by the
Science. B.S., 1943, Iowa State; President engineering; DAC recipient in 1984. * nation’s military and civilian leaders, often
of the Boeing Company in 1968 and sought for advice on national security goals;
chairman of the board in 1972; DAC 2000: Morris Soller, Doctor of Science. DAC recipient in 1999.*
recipient in 1973.* Recognized for leading the way in the actual
discovery of genetic science. 2006: Graham B. Spanier, Doctor of
1993: Charles Concordia, Doctor of Humane Letters. B.S., 1969, M.S., 1971,
Science. One of the most distinguished 2000: Jean Marie Dubois, Doctor of Iowa State; president of the Pennsylvania
power systems engineers in the world. Science. One of the world’s leading State University; known as one of the nation’s
researchers in the area of quasicrystals; premier leaders in higher education issues
1994: George Washington Carver, Doctor credited with fostering and guiding and helping universities meet the changing
of Humane Letters. B.S.,1894, M.S., 1896, collaborative research on useful applications needs of the society and world; recipient of
Iowa State; first African-American Student at for quasicrystals, including a project involving Distinguished Alumni Award in 2004.
Iowa State; world renowned plant scientist. scientists at Iowa State University and the
Ames Laboratory. 2006: Monkombu Sambasivan
1994: Hugh S. Sidey, Doctor of Humane Swaminathan, Doctor of Humane Letters.
Letters. B.S., 1950, Iowa State; staff member 2001: Keith R. Yamamoto, Doctor Ph.D. in plant genetics from Cambridge
and columnist for Time magazine for more of Science. B.S., 1968, Iowa State; University; acclaimed by TIME magazine
than 30 years; first recipient of James W. internationally known research scientist and as one of the 20 most influential Asians
Schwartz Award for “Distinguished Service to a leader in national science policy; known for of the 20th century and one of three from
Journalism and Mass Communication; DAC his breakthrough work on steroid hormone India, the others being Mahatma Gandhi and
recipient in 1972. * receptors; DAC recipient in 1997.* Rabindranath Tagore; considered a world
leader in sustainable food security.
1995: D. Gale Johnson, Doctor of Humane 2001: John Ruan, Doctor of Humane
Letters. B.S., 1932, Ph.D., 1945, Iowa State; Letters. Chairman and CEO of The Ruan 2006: Robert D. Ray, Doctor of Humane
teacher and researcher of the agricultural Companies, Des Moines; recognized for his Letters. an attorney in Des Moines for 14
economic problems in Russia and China; generosity to the city of Des Moines, his years; he served an unprecedented five terms
DAC recipient in 1995. * home state of Iowa and the international as Governor of Iowa, from 1969-1983, served
community; founder and ongoing supporter as a U.S. representative to the United Nations;
1996: M. E. “Gene” Ensminger, Doctor of the World Food Prize Foundation, named “Most Influential Iowan” at the turn
of Humane Letters. Achievements for publicizes the challenges of feeding the world of the century and holds honorary degrees
his work in animal science, education and and recognize significant advances in our from 17 colleges and universities.
international agriculture. capacity to produce, improve and distribute
food. 2007: Robert Byron Bird, Doctor of Science.
1997: Simon Estes, Doctor of Humane B.S., University of Illinois; Ph.D., Wisconsin;
Letters. studied voice at the University of 2002: Katharine Abraham, Doctor of Vilas Professor Emeritus of chemical and
Iowa from 1956-1963; from 1964 to 1965 Science. B.S., 1976, Iowa State; occupied one biological engineering at the University of
studied at the Julliard School of Music; of the most important professional positions Wisconsin, Madison; known for five decades
distinguished faculty member at Julliard in the U.S. government dealing with of books and research in chemical engineering
since 1986; recognized for extraordinary economic performance and economic policy, and thermal science; Fulbright Lecturer and
achievements in operatic music, philanthropy, the Bureau of Labor Statistics; under her Guggenheim Fellow at Technische Universiteit,
and generosity to disadvantaged children; direction, the bureau improved its method for Delft, The Netherlands; Fulbright Professor
named Honorary Alumnus in 2007. collecting employment statistics, initiated a at Kyoto University and Nagoya University,
program to collect data on job vacancies and Japan; Fulbright Lecturer at the University of
1997: Emery N. Castle, Doctor of Humane improved the way the Consumer Price Index Sarajevo, Bosnia; and a visiting professor at
Letters. Ph.D., 1952, Iowa State; recognized is measured; DAC recipient in 1999.* universities in the United States, China and
for his outstanding achievements in Belgium.
agricultural economics helping to improve 2002: Dr. M. Daniel Lane, Doctor of
the quality of life in rural America. Humane Letters. Contributions to research 2007: John Pappajohn, Doctor of
in the fields of biochemistry and nutrition; Humane Letters. Founder and president
1997: Edwin G. Krebs, Doctor of Science. international leader in understanding the of Equity Dynamics, Inc., and Pappajohn
Co-winner of the 1992 Nobel Prize in development and mechanisms underlying Capital Resources, a venture capital firm;
Physiology or Medicine; recognized for obesity; contributed to development of director on more than 40 public and private
outstanding contributions in biochemistry appetite-controlling drug; ground-breaking boards; launched the Pappajohn Centers for
and medicine. work in insulin signaling and in mechanisms Entrepreneurship at several Iowa colleges;
underlying diabetes. Iowa Philanthropist of the Year Award in
1998: Federico Mayor, Doctor of 1998, and Honorary Alumni of Iowa State
Science. Recognized for his extraordinary 2003: Roy Whistler, Doctor of Science. University in 2005.
achievements as a biochemist and for Ph.D., 1938, Iowa State; an internationally
promoting peace in the Middle East and recognized leader in carbohydrate research * Distinguished Achievement Citation,
throughout the world. the highest award granted to university alumni
101

2008: Michael M. Crow, Doctor of became Henry Ford’s personal engineer; electron effects in novel materials, and he
Humane Letters. B.S., 1977, Iowa State; founding member of the board of directors of made many significant contributions to
Ph.D., 1985, Maxwell School of Citizenship Hawkeye Community College in Waterloo; the advancement of superconductivity and
and Public Affairs, Syracuse University; the Brock Student Center at Hawkeye superconductive materials.
president, Arizona State University; Community College named in his honor;
faculty member: University of Kentucky, Director of Tractor Research and later 2011: Benjamin J. Allen, Doctor of
Columbia University, Iowa State (1985-1991). Manager of Product Engineering at the John Humane Letters. B.S., Indiana University;
Helped establish more than 15 applied Deere Waterloo Tractor Works; designed M.S. and Ph.D., University of Illinois;
research centers and technology transfer the Deere 4020 tractor and brought it into president of the University of Northern
organizational structures and mechanisms. production in 1963; founding member Iowa since 2006; former professor, dean,
Involved with Institute for Physical Research and president of the Society of Automotive vice president and provost at Iowa State
and Technology (IPRT) and Center for Crops Engineers (SAE), Mississippi Valley Section; University from 1979 to 2006; and a member
Utilization Research (CCUR). Served as recipient of the Cyrus Hall McCormick- of the Washington State University faculty
senior adviser to U.S. Departments of State Jerome Increase Case Gold Medal from the from 1974 to 1979, including a year as
and Commerce on science and technology ASABE. a Brookings Economic Policy Fellow in
policy related to intelligence and national the U.S. Department of Transportation;
security; a Fellow of the National Academy of 2010: Jonathan D. Rich, Doctor of nationally known researcher and educator
Public Administration; and member, Council Science. B.S. Iowa State; Ph.D. University in transportation and logistics, appointed by
on Foreign Relations. of Wisconsin; over 20 years of experience in Iowa Governor Branstad to co-chair, the Iowa
the silicones industry, starting as a research STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and
2008: Kenneth M. Quinn, Doctor of chemist and progressing to CEO of the Mathematics) Advisory Council.
Humane Letters. Graduate of Wahlert second-largest producer of silicones and
High School and Loras College; former U.S. silicone derivatives in the world; director 2012: George P. Belitsos, Doctor of
Ambassador to the Kingdom of Cambodia; of Momentive Performance Materials Inc. Humane Letters. Founder and Chief
president, World Food Prize Foundation; in June 2007; joined Goodyear Tire and Executive Officer of Youth and Shelter
member, American Foreign Service; member, Rubber Company in 2000, serving as director Services, Inc. (YSS). Headquartered in Ames,
Henry Kissinger’s National Security Council; of chemical R&D, president of Goodyear YSS is dedicated to helping communities
Special Assistant to Ambassador Richard Chemical, and in 2002 was named president, prepare young people for the challenges of
Holbrooke; Narcotics Counselor at US North American Tire, and Chairman of the life by providing information services and
mission to the United Nations in Vienna; Board, Goodyear Dunlop Tires NA; serves on tools to create healthier opportunities and
humanitarian efforts on behalf of refugees; Iowa State University’s Institute for Physical outcomes for troubled youth.
Chairman of the Inter-agency Task Force on Research and Technology (IPRT) Industrial
POW/MIA’s; and member of the US-Russia Advisory Board. 2012: Daniel Gianola, Doctor of Science.
POW/MIA Commission. B.S. 1970, Universidad de la Republica,
2011: Harold Scheraga, Doctor of Science. M.S.1973, Ph.D. 1975 University of Wisconsin
2009: J. Dwayne McAninch, Doctor of B.S., 1941, City College of New York; A.M., – Madison. Sewall Wright Professor of Animal
Science. Founder, McAninch Corporation; 1942 and Ph.D., 1946 Duke University; one Breeding and Genetics at the University
adviser to the board of Caterpillar/Trimble of the world’s leading physical chemists of Wisconsin, Madison. Dr. Gianola’s
Control Technologies, LLC; provided working on macromolecules, primarily research involves theory and applications of
leadership for applying GPS technology to proteins and nucleic acids, member of the quantitative genetics to animal breeding, and
construction methods. National Academy of Science and American it has had a profound impact on the analysis
Academy of Arts and Science, and a Fellow of of animal breeding data.
2009: Chan Koo Park, Doctor of Science. the American Chemical Society, Biophysical
B.S., 1976, Iowa State; Chairman and CEO of society, and American Association for the 2012: James L. Barnard, Doctor of
chemical operations, Kumho Asiana Group; Advancement of Science, six-time Fogarty Science. B.S. University of Stellenbosch and
leader and innovator in the petrochemical Scholar of the National Institutes of Health. University of Pretoria; M.S. Univeristy of
industry; helped establish Asiana Airline, Four of his papers have been designated Texas; Ph.D. Vanderbilt University. Global
Kumho Express and Kumho Telecomm as “citation classics” by the journal Current Practice and Technology Leader for Black
divisions; awards include: Gold Tower Contents, and in the March 1982 issue, he and Veatch, an international engineering,
Industry Honor, Korea’s highest corporate was listed as the most frequently cited consulting and construction company in
CEO award, Korea’s Environment-Friendly physical chemist in the world. In a 2009 energy, water, telecommunications, and
Award, and several awards from the Office of ranking of the 2,000 most notable living management consulting projects with more
the Korean President for contributions to the chemists, he was ranked 11th than 100 offices worldwide; one of the world’s
national economy, industry safety standards, leading environmental engineers.
labor relations, the environment and social 2011: Robert N. Shelton, Doctor of
responsibility. Science. B.S., Stanford University; M.S. and 2013: Peggy A. Whitson, Doctor of
Ph.D., University of California; 19th president Science. B.S. Iowa Wesleyan College; Ph.D.
2009: M. Patricia Quinlisk, Doctor of of the University of Arizona, affiliated with Rice University. National Research Council
Science. B.S. University of Wisconsin, the Ames Laboratory of the U.S. Department Resident Research Associate at NASA’s
Stevens Point; Master of Public Health from of Energy at ISU, in 1987, he joined the Johnson Space Center. She joined NASA as a
Johns Hopkins University; and M.D. from faculty at the University of California, Davis, research biochemist In 1989. Later became a
the University of Wisconsin, Madison. as professor and chair of the Department NASA astronaut, space mission commander
Epidemiologist and Medical Director of the of Physics, was appointed Vice Chancellor and chief of the NASA Astronaut Corps;
Iowa Department of Public Health for the for Research in 1990, and Vice Provost for included two extended periods in space
state of Iowa. Research of the University of California aboard the International Space Station (ISS),
system in 1996, in 2001, he joined the serving as NASA’s first Science Officer on her
2010: Harold L. Brock, Doctor of Science. University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, as first mission and as commander of the second
Apprenticed with Henry Ford at the Ford Executive Vice Chancellor and Provost, Dr. mission. The first mission (2002), lasted
Trade and Apprentice School at age 15 and Shelton’s research has focused on collective 185 days and included a nearly four and

* Distinguished Achievement Citation, 102
the highest award granted to university alumni

one-half hour spacewalk to install and check aerospace company. With more than 150,000
equipment. Her second space mission (2007), employees across the U.S. and in more than
lasted 192 days. 65 countries.

2014: Stephen J. Rapp, Doctor of Humane 2018: Dwight Ink, Doctor of Humane
Letters. B.A. Harvard, J.D. Drake University. Letters B.S. Iowa State University. Ink,
Appointed U.S. attorney in the Northern a native Iowan and the first Iowa State
District of Iowa, serving from 1993-2001. In student to earn a degree in government,
2001, he led the prosecution of the “media is an accomplished civil servant with
trial” following the 1994 Rwandan genocide. extraordinary and outstanding contributions
He then served as chief prosecutor of the to numerous federal agencies, as well as
Special Court for Sierra Leone. In 2009, he the author of two books on governing, and
was appointed by President Obama as U. S. has been a trusted advisor to seven U.S.
ambassador-at-large for war crimes issues in presidents.
the Office of Global Criminal Justice.
2018: Jon Kinzenbaw, Doctor of
2015: Dame DeAnne Julius, Ph.D., Doctor Science. Kinzenbaw, chief executive
of Humane Letters. B.S. Iowa State officer and chairman of the board for Kinze
University; M.A. and Ph.D. University of Manufacturing Inc. in Williamsburg, Iowa,
California, Davis. International economist, is an accomplished Iowa farmer, inventor,
served as economic analyst for the U.S. manufacturer, and entrepreneur. Kinzenbaw
Central Intelligence Agency and project has produced a stream of successful
economist for the World Food Bank. Named innovations to agricultural mechanization,
by Queen Elizabeth, II to Commander of the resulting in 37 patents and numerous award
Most Excellent Order of the British Empire and honors for his achievements.
for national civilian service; and Dame
Commander in the Most Distinguished Order 2018: Theaster Gates, Doctor of Humane
of Saint Michael and Saint George. Serves Letters. B.S. and M.S. Iowa State University;
as chair of the Governing Council of the M.F.A. University of Cape Town in South
University College London. Africa. Gates, is an acclaimed artist and
innovator in urban revitalization and planning.
2015: Eugene G. Sukup, Doctor of As an artist, he creates work that focuses on
Science. Founder of Sukup Manufacturing space theory and land development, sculpture,
Co., largest family-owned, full-line and performance. Drawing on his interest and
grain drying and storage equipment training in urban planning and preservation,
manufacturer. Entrepreneur and civic he redeems spaces that have been left behind,
minded philanthropist with more than 80 bringing the conversation of space to the
U.S. patents. Inovative inventor dedicated to forefront of contemporary art practice to bridge
solving food grain production problems and the gap between art and life. Known for his
also helping to feed and clothe people around recirculation of art-world capital, Gates’ work
the globe. explores the possibility of “life within things.”

2016: Ernest Moniz, Doctor of Science. B.S. 2019: Robert A. Easter, Doctor of Science.
Boston College, Ph.D. Stanford University,
and honorary degrees from the University B.S. and M.S. Texas A&M University; Ph.D.
of Athens, the University of Erlangen- University of Illinois. Easter is President
Nurenberg, Michigan State University and Emeritus of the University of Illinois,
Universidad Pontificia de Comillas. As U.S. having served the institution for 42 years.
Secretary of Energy, he was tasked with In addition to his work on campus, Easter
implementing critical Department of Energy also served his country and his community.
missions in support of President Obama’s He was a member of the U.S. Army
goals of growing the economy, enhancing Reserves for 20 years. President George
security and protecting the environment. W. Bush appointed him to Chair the Board
Prior to his appointment, he served as Under on International Food and Agricultural
Secretary of the Department of Energy and Development. He also served on the Chicago
was the Cecil and Ida Green Professor of Council on Global Affairs committee
Physics and Engineering Systems at the assigned to develop recommendations for the
Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), U.S. Farm Bill in 2002 and 2008. Easter
where he was a faculty member since 1973. chaired the Task Force on Antibiotic
Resistance. He has advised two USAID
2017: Dennis A. Muilenburg, Doctor of international agricultural development
Science. B.S. Iowa State University; M.S. projects.
University of Washington. Chairman of
the board, president and chief executive
officer of The Boeing Company. Fellow
of the American Institute of Aeronautics
and Astronautics (AIAA) and the Royal
Aeronautical Society.He oversees the strategic
direction of the Chicago-based, $94.6 billion

103 * Distinguished Achievement Citation,
the highest award granted to university alumni

The Bells of Iowa State

The History of “The Bells of Iowa State”

James C. Wilson (1900-1995) was a member of Iowa State’s English faculty from 1928 to
1931. He had to resign due to his lack of a Ph.D., and prior to his departure, he submitted
a college song candidate for a song contest sponsored by the Iowa State Club of Chicago.

Jim and his wife, Alice, moved to Chicago where as he notes, “We (in addition to their two

babies) had $212 in cash from my last paycheck, our five-year-old Chevrolet, and the tent.”

He won first place with “The Bells of Iowa State,” and the family was able to purchase a

Iowa State University Library small cottage on Lake Michigan.
Special Collections Department

“When I wrote ‘The Bells of Iowa State,’ I thought then that it had much more depth and
emotion than your basic football fight song,” Wilson said. “Its continuing popularity leaves
me very pleased, not so much because it’s my own song, but because it has had such a good
effect on those who have been touched by it.” (The Iowa Stater, June 1983)