BENSON, Dr. Robert Jenkin "Roy"

DOWNEY, BENSON, WILKINSON

Posted By: Sharon R Becker (email)
Date: 1/6/2016 at 17:49:32

BIOGRAPHY of DR. ROBERT JENKIN "ROY" BENSON
Graceland University, Lamoni, Decatur County, Iowa

Dr. Robert Jenkin "Roy" Benson was born on October 17, 1913 in Neath, South Wales, Great Britain [the son of Albert Edward and Elizabeth Jane "Jennie" (Downey) Benson]. Roy Benson moved to the United States [with his family] in 1926 and became a Golden Gloves boxing champion during high school.

After graduating from Graceland in 1937, Dr. Benson continued his education at Drake University [in Des Moines, Iowa], receiving his bachelor's degree in 1939. He then served as a teacher, principal, and superintendent at Otho (Iowa) Public Schools for five years before joining the Graceland music faculty in 1944. After sports were discontinued during World War II, Dr. Benson helped revive intercollegiate athletic competition at Graceland in the first post-war year, 1956-46.

He completed his master's degree at Drake in 1947 and obtained his doctorate degree in music education in 1955 from Chicago Musical College.

During his 35 years at the college, Dr. Benson regularly taught keyboard lessons in organ and piano, instructed classes in music theory and history, and coached the golf team. [Graceland's golf team won the Junior College Interstate Conference Meet in 1956, and represented the Sixth District in the N.A.I.A. nationals in 1960.]

Dr. Benson retired as professor emeritus in 1979 and eventually moved to Bella Vista, Arkansas. [Dr. Benson returned to Lamoni and resided at Crown Colony where he regularly entertained the residents with his performances at the piano. He eventually moved to Newton, Iowa.]

NOTE: Dr. Benson married on June 7, 1940, Lamoni, Iowa, to Mable Marcella Wilkinson. She was born ca. 1918 in Florida, the daughter of James and Avery Wilkinson, and died at the age of 87 years in 2005, Lamoni, Iowa. Dr. Benson died at the age of 98 years on September 4, 1912, Newton, Iowa. They were interred at Rose Hill Cemetery, Lamoni, Iowa.

SOURCES:
Edwards, Paul M. "The Hilltop Where. . . An Informal History of Graceland College." Pp. 110, 123. Venture Foundation. Lamoni IA. 1972.

Goehner, David. “The Graceland College Book of Knowledge: From A To Z.” Pp. 391-92. Herald House. Independence MO. 1997.

Rose Hill Cemetery transcription & Dr. Benson's obituary

Transcription and notes by Sharon R. Becker, January of 2016

Dr. Roy Benson obituary
 

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