Biographical Text
Professor Emeritus of Leadership and Higher Education, Willard Fox (May 22, 1919 -) was born in Massachusetts, and is married to Dorothy Fox. Fox received the Bachelor's degree in History and Physical Education in 1946 from Southeast Missouri State University. He attended the University of Wyoming from 1953-1955, where he earned the Masters degree in Education Administration in 1955. He continued his education at Wayne State University, where he received his Doctor of Education degree in Education Administration in 1959. Fox served his country in the United States Army Air Force from 1941-1946. In 1947, he taught at Lemay High School in Missouri. In 1948, he became the Superintendent of Chugwater Public Schools in Wyoming. He became the Superintendent of LaGrange Public Schools in Wyoming in 1951, and continued in that position until 1953. From 1953-1955, he was the Superintendent of Wheatland Public Schools, also in Wyoming. In 1955, he was an Instructor at Wayne State University in Michigan. Fox then accepted a position at Bowling Green State University, Ohio as a professor, where he stayed from 1959-1981. In 1981, Fox came to Appalachian State University as a professor and stayed until his retirement in 1989. Fox was twice elected to the Bowling Green Board of Education, conducted over 20 surveys of Ohio School districts, arranged and managed four clinics (with participants) at two successive National Conferences of the American Association of School Administrators, was a participant at National School Board Association Conventions, was Chairman of the Wyoming County Welfare Board in 1953, and was on Governor's Commission to study Education in Wyoming in 1954. He is also a lifetime member of the AASA, National Education Administrators, the National Education Association, and the Ohio Education Association. He also wrote a newspaper column, Fox Tales, for 13 years. Fox has also written and published many articles, some of which include: "Education: Today's Hope for Tomorrow," "What a Superintendent Has a Right to Expect from the School Board," "What the School Board Has a Right to Expect from a Superintendent," "Eagles Don't Flock", and numerous other articles. Fox said that his greatest rewards have been friendships with his former students. He stresses the importance of encouraging students to be individuals and of discovering their individual talents and potential. When Fox retired after 42 years of service to the public school system, a three-day symposium was held in his honor. The symposium, covering the topics of concern to educators at the close of the twentieth century, has continued for the past six years. Fox now spends some of his leisure time repairing antique clocks. He and his wife live in Boone. They have three children: Willard, III ("Skip"), recently named Distinguished Professor of English at the University of Southwest Louisiana; Nancy, a transport team nurse at the Children's Hospital in Columbus, OH; and Judith, an art teacher at Marburn Academy in Columbus, OH. Sources: Appalachian State University files and long association. - Dr. Richard D. Howe and Ms. Rebecca Pierce-Ebdy
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