Rowland, Ray

https://repository.stcloudstate.edu/scsu_oh/6 [11655]

Biographical Information: Howard Ray Rowland was born in 1929 in New Mexico. Graduating from high school just after World War II in 1946, Rowland received an undergraduate degree from the University Missouri and a master’s degree from Southern Illinois University. Rowland earned a Ph.D. from Michigan State University in 1969. Before arriving at St. Cloud State in 1959, Rowland served in Germany for two years during the Korean War, worked in small newspapers in Missouri, and worked in public relations at Southern Illinois. Once at St. Cloud State, Rowland was director of Information Services, a position he held until 1986. Rowland then taught in the department of Mass Communications and served as assistant to the dean of the College of Fine Arts and Humanities. Rowland retired in 1991. He is married to June Lee and has two daughters.

Transcript Summary: In this oral history interview conducted by University Archivist Tom Steman on January 6, 2017, retired professor Ray Rowland shared his experiences as an administrator in the Public Relations Department at St. Cloud State University during the Vietnam-era and into the 1980s. Rowland addressed specific incidents such as anti-Vietnam protests and the homecoming riot of 1988. Rowland also discussed personal accounts of working with various St. Cloud State presidents such as George Budd, Charles Graham, Robert, Wick, and Brendan McDonald. Rowland concludes the interview by sharing his current writing projects and elaborating on his previous books, including the 125th Anniversary of St. Cloud State University which was published in 1994.