Maurice David Helser (1890-1956)

HELSER, STEVENS, BLISS, DESONIER, DE SONIER

Posted By: Dorian Myhre (email)
Date: 2/22/2013 at 21:02:57

From Ames Tribune April 27, 1956

M. D. Helser of ISC Dies; Rites Saturday

M. D. Helser, 66, director of student affairs at Iowa State College and former dean of the Iowa College for 23 years, died at 11:05 p.m. Thursday at Iowa State College Hospital.

He was taken to the hospital Thursday at 5 a.m. Cause of death was cancer.

Funeral services wil be Saturday at 1:30 p.m. at Collegiate Presbyterian Church with Rev. E. W. Remley, pastor of the church in charge. He will be assisted by the Rev. W. Murray Allen, First Congregational Church, and the Rev. LeRoy Burroughs, St. John's by the Campus Episcopal Church.

The Body will lie in state Saturday from 10 a.m. to 12 noon at Adams Funeral Home.

Burial will be in Iowa State College Cemetery.

Survivors are his wife; daughters Mrs. William Bliss (Carolyn Jane), Ames, and Mrs. Roy De Sonier (Margaret Elizabeth), New Orleans; five grandchildren--Carolyn, Michael and David Bliss; and Susan and Margaret De Sonier; and three brothers Perry D., St. Petersburg, Fla; Albert D., Wheaton, Ill.; and Ray D., Thornville, Ohio.

The family asked today, and Mr. Helser had once suggested, that any memorial gifts in his memory be given to the Iowa State Alumni Achievement Fund, earmarked for the Helser Scholarship Fund.

Dean Helser, a member of the Iowa State College faculty for more than 40 years, had played an outstanding role as administrator, teacher, researcher in animal husbandry, and as an active and tireless worker in the community of Ames. But his greatest contribution has come in the intimate and understanding association with thousands of ISC students to whom he has been counselor and personal adviser, as well as a warm and kind friend.

Says Iowa State's President James H. Hilton, "Dean Helser probably had a greater influence on the lives of more Iowa State College students than any other person in the history of the institution. No student body ever had a better friend. He was firm yet kind and always objective in dealing with every student."

During the past year recognition of his many services to the college has come in a number of ways.

Dean Was Honored

At the 1955 Veishea festival on campus Dean Helser received a unique honor. Students, faculty members, alumni and other friends organized a spontaneous movement called, "Operation Rainbow" which provided a fund for the purchase of a new Cadillac, presented to the dean as a surprise amid Veichea ceremonies. At the same time, a scholarship fund was established in his honor.

The 1955 Bomb (student yearbook) was dedicated to "M. D. Helser -- Dean, Counselor, Friend" by the student editors.

The Little International Livestock Show of 1953, a student service of major importance, was dedicated to Dean Helser.

At Commencement in June 1955, Dean Helser received a Chicago Alumni Merit Award. Established in 1932, the Merit Award goes to an outstanding alumnus of Iowa State who has given meritorious services in his field and has contributed much to his fellow men.

Maurice David Helser was born March 22, 1890 at Thornville, Ohio, the son of David M. and Erma S. Helser. He was graduated from Thornville high school in 1909 and taught a country school in 1909-10.

In the autumn of 1910 he entered Ohio State University, taking an agricultural course. He received a B.S.A. degree from Ohio State in 1914, and an M.S. degree from Iowa State College in 1916. He completed special work a the University of Chicago during the summer session of 1930, and at Harvard University during the summer session of 1934.

His first college teaching job was at Arkansas State College wher he was instructor of animal husbandry in 1914-15. September of 1915 found him at Iowa State College where he became a teaching scholar in the anmimal husbandry department, and began the long career with the college.

When the college organized a meats laboratory. In 1918 he was made head, and directed meats investigations. In the field of meats he soon gained a reputation as an outstanding authority and teacher. He wrote a textbook on "Farm Meats" and was co-author of tests on "Essentials in the Selection of Meats" and "Marketing Livestock." In addition, he was author of a number of publications for the Iowa Agricultural Experiment Station.

He served as supervisor of the carcass division of the International Livestock Exhibition at Chicago from 1923 to 1931, and as assistant superintendant at the Iowa State Fiar from 1917 to 1932.

He took Iowa State's first undergraduate meats judging team to the International Live Stock Exposition when that contest was begun in 1926, and served as the coach for six years.

In 1931 Helser began a brand new career. President R. M. Hughes of Iowa State was looking for a Director of Personnel-- a man who could take from the president's shoulders some of the many duties involved in looking after the welfare of undergraduates. A canvass of the faculty pointed to Helser who was a great leader and a man who enjoyed excellent relation with students.

Responsibilities Grow

With some misgivings Helser accepted a new role on a trial basis. It soon was apparent that President Hughes had chosen wisely. In 1932 Helser was given another responsibility--Dean of the Junior College--which again meant dealing with the students.

He held the titles of Director of Personnel and Dean of the Junior College until July 1955 when he reached the age of 65. He was then required to step from administrative duties under the rules of the college. However under a recognition plan proposed by President James H. Hilton, the offices of the Dean of the Junior College and Director of Personnel were abolished, and a new office created--that of Director of Student Affairs. Helser was requested to become the first Director of Student Affairs.

A sincerely religious man, Dean Helser served for more than a quarter of a century as "temporary" pastor of the Presbyterian Church of Jordan. In August 1930, the small rural church, unable to support a full-time pastor whose services they might share with another church, appealed to Helser.

He agreed to give the message from the pulpit on Sunday morning. When he did, worshippers marveled at the power of the preaching of this layman. The asked him to serve as their pastor for six weeks.

For the next 25 years they kept renewing their request that he continue with them and he died until illness prevented him doing so recently. For 22 years he also taught a Sunday school class at Collegiate Presbyterian Church, where he was an elder and a past president of the Board of Trustees.

This meant a close schedule of teaching from 9:30 a.m. each Sunday until 10:30 a.m., then a drive to Jordan to be in the pulpit by 11 a.m. Sunday afternoons often were spent by the dean and his wife in visiting members of the congregation who were sick or unable to attend.

Active in community life in many ways, the dean had been a member of the Ames City Council (1920-24), Rotary Club (past president), Ames Golf and Country Club, Story County Draft Board and chairman of the Budget Committee of the Ames Community Chest.

On campus his activities were many. He had been a member of the YMCA advisory board, the Athletic Council (1927-47 and president for 11 years), Administrative Board, Dates of Events Committee (chairman), Fraternity and Sororities Committee (chairman), Scholarships Committee (chairman), Alumni Hall Trustees (vice chairman), Curriculum Committee, Freshman Days Committee, Student Employment Committee, Special Committee to Counsel for Returned Veterans. Also Student Government Committee (chairman), Personnel and Placement Committee (chairman).

The Dean was member of Cardinal Key, honorary organization for men of Iowa State and of numerous other organizations including: Phi Kappa Phi (past president), Gamma Sigma Delta (past president), Alpha Phi Omega, Alpha Gamma Rho, Iowa Academy of Science, American College for Personnel Association, National Association of Deans and Advisors to Men, Saddle and Sirloin Club of Chicago, State Organization of YMCA, Iowa State College Ward System, and Alpha Zeta.

During World War I Helser was an instructor in the S.A.T.C. program at Iowa State College, and during World War II he was educational coordinator for the Army Specialized Training Program.

The dean usually listed his hobbies as "working with students, church work, golf and bowling."

He was married August 20, 1914 at Columbus, Ohio to Elizabeth Stevens of Linnville, Ohio.