MORTIMORE, Roy Henry

MORTIMORE, BAKER, BRIGGS, PLATZ

Posted By: Sharon R Becker (email)
Date: 1/23/2016 at 15:18:55

BIOGRAPHY of ROY HENRY MORTIMORE
Graceland University, Lamoni, Decatur County, Iowa

Roy Henry Mortimore was born in Hamburg, Iowa, on February 23, 1893, the son of Nathan Lorenzo and Sarah Julia (Baker) Mortimore.

The valedictorian of his Hamburg high school class, Roy was awarded a four-year state scholarship to the University of Iowa. During World War I, Roy enlisted in the Signal Corps and served in France.

In 1918, Roy completed his bachelor's degree in geology at the University of Iowa. He was a geologist for Sinclair Oil in Chanute, Kansas. Roy and his brother Morris then established a small consulting engineering firm. Roy joined Graceland's faculty as mathematics professor in 1921 upon the invitation of President George N. Briggs. In 1921, Graceland's science labs were in very poor shape. The science department was moved to the basement of Zimmerman Hall in 1927 and the labs were upgraded through the dedication of Roy [math and physics], Morris Mortimore [geolgoy] and Gustav A. Platz [biology]. In 1920, Platz and Roy were offering basic laboratory courses and by 1925, Morris joined the faculty to add earth science to the curriculum. The increased class and laboratory facilities gave the students increased scientific theory and more expanded opportunities for applied experience. During the early days at Zimmerman Hall, Dr. Platz designed and built most of the equipment. Throughout the following decades, Roy taught mathematics, engineering, geology, earth science and physics.

Early in his teaching career, Roy took sabbaticals to purse his studies of physics at the University of Iowa. In 1925, Roy completed his master's and obtained his Ph.D. in 1929.

Morris E. Mortimore, Roy's brother, taught biology and geology from 1925 until 1931, leaving Graceland due to the Depression. Despite meager materials and space during these difficult years, Roy did the best with what he had and stood out as an effective teacher.

Roy often personally shaped odds and ends into tools of utility for the physics lab, and was known for his keen analytical powers and his rapid flow of phrases during lectures.

Roy was a charter member of Graceland's Lambda Delta Sigma honor society and in 1939 helped organize the college's Photography Club.

During World War II, Roy took another sabbatical to teach science courses [physics, chemistry and mechanics] to army personnel for a year at the University of Iowa. In 1943, Roy served on Graceland's Postwar Planning Committee. The following year, Roy headed the biological and physical sciences department.

Roy was married first to Susan Maxwell on November 22, 1919 in Amarillo, Texas. Susan was born on January 8, 1893, What Cheer, Iowa, the daughter of Robert and Mary Elizabeth (Forsyth) Maxwell. Susan died at the age of 51 years on July 20, 1944, Lamoni, Iowa, and was interred at Rose Hill Cemetery, Lamoni, Iowa. Roy married second Betty Ruth Watts on June 7, 1946, Lamoni, Iowa. Betty was a biology professor from 1965 to 1988 at Graceland University, assuming the position two years after Roy retired.

Throughout most of his time at Graceland, Roy chaired the Science and Math Division, once saying that he remained at Graceland because he wanted to help churches learn respect for science.

Graceland's science building was built in 1954 and opened in 1955, providing the space and equipment that the science department needed. The building was partially named his honor in 1959, Platz-Mortimore Science Hall.

Roy retired as professor emeritus in 1963. He continued as an educator, teaching math at Lamoni High School for 2 1/2 years and a course in earth science during Graceland's 1981 winter term.

Off campus, Roy was active in Lamoni affairs, serving for a time as president of the Lamoni Cooperative Grain and Seed Company. He owned a farm just outside of town limits where he raised polled herefords and Arabian horses. Roy was the father of four daughters and a son.

Roy died on October 28, 1987, in Lamoni, Iowa. Roy was interred beside his first wife Susan in Rose Hill Cemetery, Lamoni, Iowa.

SOURCES:

Edwards, Paul M. "The Hilltop Where. . . An Informal History of Graceland College." Pp. 60, 88, 92, 94, 158-59. Venture Foundation. Lamoni IA. 1972.
Goehner, David. “The Graceland College Book of Knowledge: From A To Z.” Pp. 430-31. Herald House. Independence MO. 1997.
Rose Hill Cemetery transcription

Transcription by Sharon R. Becker, January of 2016

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