GOODE, Delmar Taylor

TAYLOR, GOODE, OAKMAN, MAY, CRAWFORD, CHEVILLE, MORTIMORE, CLOTHIER, SHAKESPEARE

Posted By: Sharon R Becker (email)
Date: 1/14/2016 at 10:20:01

Biography ~ Delmar Taylor Goode
Graceland University, Lamoni, Iowa

Delmar Taylor Goode was born on June 29, 1909, in Independence, Missouri, the son of Andy Hayes and Stella (Taylor) Goode. He attended William Chrisman High School, in Independence, graduating in 1927. ecause his older brother had done well in the field of chemistry during high school, Delmar Goode decided to pursue that field.

Delmar attended Graceland where he took pre-engineering, supporting himself working as a night watchman from 1:00 a.m. to 5:00 a.m., seven days a week. As a student at Graceland, Delmar was active in football, plays and choirs, including the A Cappella Choir. He served as a chemistry assistant and completed his A.A. degree in chemistry in 1929. He returned to Graceland the following year to study music. During this time, Delmar served as the business manager of the A Cappella Choir, developed the Graceland Quartette with Arthur Oakman, Rod May and Bob Crawford, and served as a janitor of the second and third floors of the Administration Building.

Delmar continued his studies in chemistry at Kansas University where he finished his bachelor's degree in 1932. Delmar worked at his own cosmetic business and raised winter vegetables. He accepted a position as a research chemist with Colgate-Palmolive from 1935 to 1945.

Delmar and Anita Gertrude May were married December 23, 1935.

Delmar had risen to the position of supervior of his division with Colegate-Palmolive when Acting President of Graceland, Dr. Roy A. Cheville, asked him to join Graceland's faculty. Delmar accepted the invitation, returning as the sole chemistry faculty member in 1945. This was his first teaching assignment.

During those early years the facilities were few and the load heavy. Delmar taught general chemistry, inorganic cheistry, qualitative analysis and organic chemistry all in a one-room lab located in the basement of Zimmermann Hall.

Two years later Delmar completed his master's degree in micro-chemistry from the University of Iowa. He was instrumental in helping design the facilities of the Platz-Mortimore Science Hall (completed in 1955). Delmar was named chairman of the department upon the retirement of Dr. Roy Mortimore. Throughout the spring of 1963 volunteered to create the landscaping at the recessed area at the south side of the Memorial Student Center. Delmar's Graceland and actual families merged during his college tenure when his daughter Louita married Graceland music professor Richard I. Clothier.

Delmar retired in 1975 as professor emeritus and retired to a home in Lamoni that he had built himself.

Delmar died on January 23, 2002. Anita Gertrude (May) Goode was born on December 23, 1912 at Society, Tahaiti, the daughter of John Charles and Ethel Gertrude (Shakespeare) May. She arrived in the United States in 1916. Anita died on February 4, 1994. Delmar and Anita were interred at Rose Hill Cemetery, Lamoni, Iowa.

SOURCES:

Edwards, Paul M. "The Hilltop Where . . . An Informal History of Graceland College." Pp. 151-52. Venture Foundation. Lamoni IA. 1972.

Goehner, David. “The Graceland College Book of Knowledge: From A To Z.” Pp. 408-09. Herald House. Independence MO. 1997.

Rose Hill Cemetery transcription

Transcription by Sharon R. Becker, January of 2016

Decatur Biographies maintained by Constance McDaniel Hall.
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