Robert W. MacVicar
Encyclopedia
Robert William MacVicar was a professor of chemistry, the Chancellor of Southern Illinois University
, and the President of Oregon State University
between 1970 and 1984.
at the University of Wyoming
, graduating from there in 1939. Upon graduation, MacVicar was awarded a Rhodes scholarship
, but it proved impossible for him to attend due to the outbreak of World War II
in Europe.
Instead, MacVicar enrolled and Oklahoma State University in Stillwater, Oklahoma
, where he continued his chemistry studies. MacVicar obtained his Masters of Science in 1940 from Oklahoma State, authoring a thesis entitled "The Effect of Adrenaline Injections on the Chloride and Phosphorus Distribution of the Blood" en route to obtaining his degree.
MacVicar spent the duration of the war as an officer in the United States Army
. He left military service as a Colonel
in the U.S. Army Air Corps.
Following the conclusion of the war, MacVicar moved to Madison
to attend the University of Wisconsin, from which he obtained a PhD
in biochemistry
in 1946. MacVicar's dissertation was entitled "The Boron Metabolism of Plants" and included material which he had been able to publish in the American Potato Journal and Botanical Gazette.
With degree in hand, MacVicar returned to Stillwater to take a position as an Assistant Professor of Agricultural Chemistry Research and Chemistry, later gaining promotion to a full professorship. He remained at Oklahoma State until 1964.
In 1968, MacVicar was named Chancellor of Southern Illinois University
, located in the town of Carbondale
in the state's downstate coal
mining country. MacVicar remained there until 1970, when he came west to Corvallis, Oregon
to assume a post as the 15th President of Oregon State University
.
MacVicar remained as head of Oregon State until his retirement in 1984, during which time the campus was expanded with the addition of 23 new buildings. Under MacVicar's watch the total number of faculty at OSU expanded from 1,766 to 2,247, while the school's budget tripled.
.
Robert MacVicar died on December 26, 1998. He was 80 years old at the time of his death.
Over the course of his career, MacVicar published over 135 papers, reports and articles. His papers are held by Oregon State University Archives in Corvallis.
Southern Illinois University
Southern Illinois University is a state university system based in Carbondale, Illinois, in the Southern Illinois region of the state, with multiple campuses...
, and the President of Oregon State University
Oregon State University
Oregon State University is a coeducational, public research university located in Corvallis, Oregon, United States. The university offers undergraduate, graduate and doctoral degrees and a multitude of research opportunities. There are more than 200 academic degree programs offered through the...
between 1970 and 1984.
Academic career
MacVicar was a student of chemistryChemistry
Chemistry is the science of matter, especially its chemical reactions, but also its composition, structure and properties. Chemistry is concerned with atoms and their interactions with other atoms, and particularly with the properties of chemical bonds....
at the University of Wyoming
University of Wyoming
The University of Wyoming is a land-grant university located in Laramie, Wyoming, situated on Wyoming's high Laramie Plains, at an elevation of 7,200 feet , between the Laramie and Snowy Range mountains. It is known as UW to people close to the university...
, graduating from there in 1939. Upon graduation, MacVicar was awarded a Rhodes scholarship
Rhodes Scholarship
The Rhodes Scholarship, named after Cecil Rhodes, is an international postgraduate award for study at the University of Oxford. It was the first large-scale programme of international scholarships, and is widely considered the "world's most prestigious scholarship" by many public sources such as...
, but it proved impossible for him to attend due to the outbreak of World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
in Europe.
Instead, MacVicar enrolled and Oklahoma State University in Stillwater, Oklahoma
Stillwater, Oklahoma
Stillwater is a city in north-central Oklahoma at the intersection of U.S. 177 and State Highway 51. It is the county seat of Payne County, Oklahoma, United States. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 45,688. Stillwater is the principal city of the Stillwater Micropolitan Statistical...
, where he continued his chemistry studies. MacVicar obtained his Masters of Science in 1940 from Oklahoma State, authoring a thesis entitled "The Effect of Adrenaline Injections on the Chloride and Phosphorus Distribution of the Blood" en route to obtaining his degree.
MacVicar spent the duration of the war as an officer in the United States Army
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
. He left military service as a Colonel
Colonel
Colonel , abbreviated Col or COL, is a military rank of a senior commissioned officer. It or a corresponding rank exists in most armies and in many air forces; the naval equivalent rank is generally "Captain". It is also used in some police forces and other paramilitary rank structures...
in the U.S. Army Air Corps.
Following the conclusion of the war, MacVicar moved to Madison
Madison, Wisconsin
Madison is the capital of the U.S. state of Wisconsin and the county seat of Dane County. It is also home to the University of Wisconsin–Madison....
to attend the University of Wisconsin, from which he obtained a PhD
PHD
PHD may refer to:*Ph.D., a doctorate of philosophy*Ph.D. , a 1980s British group*PHD finger, a protein sequence*PHD Mountain Software, an outdoor clothing and equipment company*PhD Docbook renderer, an XML renderer...
in biochemistry
Biochemistry
Biochemistry, sometimes called biological chemistry, is the study of chemical processes in living organisms, including, but not limited to, living matter. Biochemistry governs all living organisms and living processes...
in 1946. MacVicar's dissertation was entitled "The Boron Metabolism of Plants" and included material which he had been able to publish in the American Potato Journal and Botanical Gazette.
With degree in hand, MacVicar returned to Stillwater to take a position as an Assistant Professor of Agricultural Chemistry Research and Chemistry, later gaining promotion to a full professorship. He remained at Oklahoma State until 1964.
Administrative career
Concurrently with his professorship at Oklahoma State, MacVicar became involved in school administration, taking on the role of Dean of the Graduate School in 1953. He continued to serve in that capacity until his departure from Stillwater in 1964. From 1957 he also served as Vice President for Academic Affairs.In 1968, MacVicar was named Chancellor of Southern Illinois University
Southern Illinois University
Southern Illinois University is a state university system based in Carbondale, Illinois, in the Southern Illinois region of the state, with multiple campuses...
, located in the town of Carbondale
Carbondale
Carbondale may refer to:*Carbondale, California*Carbondale, Colorado*Carbondale, Illinois*Carbondale, Indiana*Carbondale, Kansas*Carbondale, Ohio*Carbondale, Oklahoma, an area in Tulsa, Oklahoma*Carbondale, Pennsylvania...
in the state's downstate coal
Coal
Coal is a combustible black or brownish-black sedimentary rock usually occurring in rock strata in layers or veins called coal beds or coal seams. The harder forms, such as anthracite coal, can be regarded as metamorphic rock because of later exposure to elevated temperature and pressure...
mining country. MacVicar remained there until 1970, when he came west to Corvallis, Oregon
Corvallis, Oregon
Corvallis is a city located in central western Oregon, United States. It is the county seat of Benton County and the principal city of the Corvallis, Oregon Metropolitan Statistical Area, which encompasses all of Benton County. As of the 2010 United States Census, the population was 54,462....
to assume a post as the 15th President of Oregon State University
Oregon State University
Oregon State University is a coeducational, public research university located in Corvallis, Oregon, United States. The university offers undergraduate, graduate and doctoral degrees and a multitude of research opportunities. There are more than 200 academic degree programs offered through the...
.
MacVicar remained as head of Oregon State until his retirement in 1984, during which time the campus was expanded with the addition of 23 new buildings. Under MacVicar's watch the total number of faculty at OSU expanded from 1,766 to 2,247, while the school's budget tripled.
Death and legacy
Following his retirement, MacVicar was awarded the title Professor Emeritus of Chemistry as well as President Emeritus and Special Assistant to the Chancellor. MacVicar remained active in the Corvallis community and put his networking skills to use establishing a fund-raising program on behalf of the College of Ganado, located on a Navajo reservation in northeastern ArizonaArizona
Arizona ; is a state located in the southwestern region of the United States. It is also part of the western United States and the mountain west. The capital and largest city is Phoenix...
.
Robert MacVicar died on December 26, 1998. He was 80 years old at the time of his death.
Over the course of his career, MacVicar published over 135 papers, reports and articles. His papers are held by Oregon State University Archives in Corvallis.
Works
- Feeding Trials with Mineral and Protein Supplements for Two-and Three-Year-Old Steers Wintering on Dry Grass. With Oscar Burr Ross and D.F. Stephens. Stillwater, OK: Oklahoma Agricultural Experiment Station, 1950.
- Science is Everybody's Business. Oklahoma City, OK: United Founders Life Insurance Co., n.d. [1960].
- Vitamin A Studies with Beef Cattle: A Summary of Experimental Studies Conducted at Oklahoma State University, 1946-1959. With L.S. Pope and Frank H. Baker. Stillwater, OK: Oklahoma Agricultural Experiment Station, 1961.
External links
- "Guide to the Robert W. MacVicar Papers 1942-1995," Oregon State University Archives, Valley Library, Corvallis, OR.
- "Guide to the President's Office Photographs, 1923-1998," Oregon State University Archives, Valley Library, Corvallis, OR.