Kalas, Dr. Harry H. 1903-1984

KALAS

Posted By: Linda Ziemann, volunteer (email)
Date: 1/31/2010 at 14:47:19

COLLEGE EDUCATOR, MERRILL SON DEAD AT 80

Dr. Harry H. Kalas, 80, a Merrill native and former Westmar College president for 12 years, died unexpectedly Saturday (Feb. 25, 1984) of a heart attack at Otterbein Home, Lebanon, Ohio.

Services will be at 2 p.m. Tuesday at the Otterbein Church, Lebannon. Memorials may be sent to Westmar College Development Office.

Dr. Kalas became Westmar College president, July 1, 1956, and retired June 30, 1968, after a 12-year tenure.

Dr. Kalas was born Dec. 31, 1903, at Merrill, the son of Rev. and Mrs. Henry W. Kalas.

Dr. Kalas had been primarily interested in Christian education most of his life. His return to LeMars was a return to his place of birth and boyhood.

His higher education was at Western Union College, LeMars, where he earned his bachelor’s degree in 1925. He went on to Evangelical Theological Seminary and earned his B.D. degree and later earned a master’s degree at Northwestern University.

He completed his residence work for a Ph.D. and received an honorary D.D. from Westmar College and LL.D. from Otterbein College.

Between 1926 and 1939, he was a minister in churches in the Chicago area. He was a professor of practical theology at Evangelical Theological Seminary from 1940 to 1946.

Dr. Kalas spent two years as executive secretary of the Iowa Council of Churches and in 1948 became identified with the National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of America, first as director of the National Christian Teaching Mission and later as associate executive secretary of the Division of Christian Education.

Dr. Kalas served as first president of the Colleges of Mid-America, Inc., for two years until May 1970.

~Source: The LeMars Sentinel, publication date unknown

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