By NICK VILLALOBOS, Editor in Chief
Former Northwestern president, Dr. Joe J. Struckle, died Saturday at the age of 83.
Struckle became the sixteenth president of the university, as he served from 1975-2000, and his tenure as chief executive officer remains the longest in the university’s history.
Struckle was a native of Bryant. He also served in the U.S. Army during the Korean War. Following the war, he earned a bachelor’s degree from East Central University, a master’s degree from Oklahoma State University and finally a doctoral degree from the University of Tulsa.
Struckle began his career as a math teacher at both Shidler and Ponca City. He then served as a math professor and later Dean of Men at Northern Oklahoma College. In 1968, Struckle was hired as an associate professor of education as well as the dean of students at Northwestern.
During his career, Struckle was the recipient of many awards for his service in education. In 1995, he was inducted into the Oklahoma Educators Hall of Fame. Later, in 1998, he was also elected to the Oklahoma Higher Education Hall of Fame.
Struckle was inducted into the Oklahoma Educators Hall of Fame thanks to the nomination by fellow members of the faculty, according to Wayne Lane’s book, NWOSU: A Centennial History. He was cited by faculty for his successful management of university finances, his work in adapting university offering to changing educational environments, his rapport with the faculty and community services and his concern for the students.
While serving as the university president, Struckle witnessed the construction of the Wellness Center, and the renovations of both the Education Center and Vinson Hall. Struckle said in Lane’s book, the construction of the Wellness Center, focused on the physical needs of older citizens because “such a service was becoming more critical with the increase in the number of older persons.
Upon the completion of the Wellness Center in####, the facility as he envisioned it would provide both a setting to train students to work in that field and for senior citizens in the community to exercise according to their needs, according Lane’s book.
Struckle is survived by his wife of 58 years, Barbara; his two sons, Jay Struckle of El Reno, and Jeff Struckle and wife Sharon of Olathe, Kansas, and two grandchildren Katelyn and Carter.
“POSSIBLE QUOTE FROM DR. CUNNINGHAM ABOUT THE PASSING OF STRUCKLE.”