Bimson, Oliver H.

BIMSON

Posted By: Karon Velau (email)
Date: 6/17/2021 at 21:49:48

Source: History of Warren County, Iowa, by Gerard Schultz and Don L. Berry, The Record and Tribune Co., Indianola, Iowa, 1953, p.287

OLIVER HAROLD BIMSON
Dr. Oliver H. Bimson, dean of Simpson College, was born at Inman, Nebraska, May 31, 1892, the son of Josiah and Ella (Harmon) Bimson. He attended the high school at Albion, Nebraska, and continued his studies at Nebraska Wesleyan, where he graduated with the degree of bachelor of arts in 1914. He received the degree of doctor of philosophy from the University of Nebraska in 1939. He also did graduate work at the University of Chicago and Columbia University.
Oct. 16, 1914, Dr. Bimson married Essel Elizabeth Howard, daughter of Richard E. and Louise (Johnson) Howard. Mrs. Bimson was born at Boone, Neb., April 26, 1892. The Bimsons have two children: Stanley Oliver, born Jan. 11, 1918, and Dorothy Helen, Sept. 26, 1925.
Dr. Bimson has been a school administrator since 1914. During these years he was teacher at Fairmont, Nebraska, 1914-1915; superintendent of schools, Osmond, Nebraska, 1915-1919; superintendent of schools, Oakland, Nebraska, 1919-1922; superintendent of schools, University Place, Nebraska, 1922-1927; and assistant superintendent of schools at Lincoln, Nebraska, 1927-1946. He was on leave from 1939 to 1940 to serve on the staff of the educational policies commission on a nation-wide study of American high schools. From 1942 to 1943 he was again on leave to serve in the United States office of education as chief of working staff on wartime consumer education. He served again in the United States office of education in 1946-1947 as subregional chief for 10 states in the program of utilization of surplus property for schools. He has been dean of Simpson college since September, 1947.
Dr. Bimson is a life member of the National Education association, a member of the department of higher education of the National Education association, the Iowa Education association, Phi Delta Kappa, an honorary educational fraternity. He is also a member of the Lincoln Consistory of Scottish Rite Masons, 32nd degree, awarded the Knight Commander Court of Honor by Scottish Rite Masonry, a member of Rotary International since 1927, president Lincoln Rotary club, 1944-1945, district governor of the 193rd district Rotary International, July 1, 1951, to July 1, 1952, and chair-man of the Community Chest drive, Lincoln, Neb., in 1942.
He has been a member of the Methodist church since childhood. He was chairman of the First Methodist church board in Lincoln for 15 years, a member and director of the church choir for many years, and lay leader and lay representative to the annual conference from the First Methodist church, Lincoln.