WIGHT, Darlene (Van BIBER)

VAN BIBER, WIGHT

Posted By: Sharon R Becker (email)
Date: 1/31/2016 at 13:59:55

Biography ~ Darlene (Van Biber) Wight
Graceland University, Lamoni, Iowa

Darlene (Van Biber) Wight was born on January 5, 1926, in Andover, Kansas. A 1945 Graceland graduate, Darlene continued her education at the University of Kansas, completing her B. A. in speech and drama in 1948, and her M.A. in speech pathology in 1952. Darlene's master thesis was entitled A Survey of Little Theater Activities in Kansas City, Missouri.

In 1949, Darlene was cast as the female lead in Honeymoon For Harriet, a short commercial film shot ta Kansas City for International Harvester that marked the directorial debut of noted movie director Robert Altman. [A Honeymoon For Harriet is an "entertaining comedy concerned with the efforts of a young farm bride to persuade her husband to spend money for a honeymoon rather than for new equipment for the farm. Written by Robert Altman" ~ http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0417758/]

On January 21, 1950, Darlene married Les Wight, a future Graceland art instructor.

Darlene taught at the University of Kansas at Lawrence (1949-50), instructed in an overseas program at Munich through the University of Maryland (1954), and served as a speech pathologist for the Independence (Missouri) Public School District (1958-1961).

Darlene joined Graceland's faculty in 1961* as a teacher of speech and English. She planned and taught the first Interpersonal Speech class at the campus and offered the first rhetoric course in which students used computers to type drafts and final papers.

Darlene appeared in a few campus theatre productions and displayed her fiber weaving in a one-person show.

Following Darlene and Les' retirements as professor emerita and emeritus in 1987, the Wights moved to Kansas City, Missouri.

* Darlene's husband Les also joined Graceland's faculty in 1961.

SOURCE: Goehner, David. “The Graceland College Book of Knowledge: From A To Z.” Pp. 446-47. Herald House. Independence MO. 1997.

Transcription by Sharon R. Becker, January of 2016

Decatur Biographies maintained by Constance McDaniel Hall.
WebBBS 4.33 Genealogy Modification Package by WebJourneymen