HONORARY DEGREE RECIPIENTS 1944 - Present 1944 Vernon J. Brown Auditor-General, State of Michigan, elected Master of Public Administration Lt. Governor
1945 Edson V. Root, Sr. Previous superintendent of Western's Master of Education Training School at Paw Paw
John K. Walsh Doctor of Letters Editor of Kalamazoo Gazette
1946 Benjamin J. Buikema Assistant superintendent of schools, Grand Master of Education Rapids
Louisa I. (Durham) Mohr Principal, Lakeview Jr. High, Battle Creek and Master of Education Member, State Board of Education
1947 Forest G. Averill Superintendent, East Grand Rapids Public Master of Education Schools
Herold C. Hunt Superintendent, Chicago Public Schools, Doctor of Laws former Kalamazoo Public Schools Superintendent 1948 Loy Norrix Doctor of Laws Superintendent, Kalamazoo Public Schools
Merze Tate Professor of History, Howard University, Doctor of Letters Washington, D.C.
1949 Edna Dean Baker President, National College of Education, Doctor of Education Evanston, IL
Reed Waterman Designated "Dean of High School Coaches" Master of Education by fellow coaches - coached many high school teams in Michigan
Edith Wellever Professor of Education, Wayne University Master of Education and supervisor of rural ed. in Wayne County 1 ______1951 Theodore L. Brownyard Chemist in the Bureau of Ordnance, Doctor of Science Navy Department, Washington, D.C.
Cleo Hartwig Glinsky Artist/sculptress Master of Fine Arts
Earl J. McGrath U. S. Commissioner of Education Doctor of Laws
L.C. Mohr Superintendent, South Haven Schools Doctor of Education
1952 Charles G. Burns Principal, Northwestern High School, Doctor of Education Detroit, MI
E. L. Church Civic Leader, Kalamazoo & state Master of Education committees. 1952 co-chair. American Red Cross campaign
Harley W. Holmes Superintendent, Marshall Public Doctor of Education Schools
C. B. Leaver Master of Education Superintendent, Kent City Schools
Ronald G. MacDonald Doctor of Science Secretary-Treasurer, Technical Assn. of the Pulp and Paper Industry 1953 Marcillene Barnes Master of Science Director of Curriculum, Grand Rapids Public Schools Clarence H. Elliott Master of Public Administration City Manager, Kalamazoo
Eugene S. Thomas Principal, Kalamazoo Central High Master of Education School
2 ______1954 John J. Harris Supervisor, Part-time Trade and Industrial Master of Education Education, Dept. of Public Transportation
H. Glenn Anderson Assoc. Professor of Music, Western Master of Music Michigan College of Education
Earnest L. Ludwig Vice President and Sales Manager, Master of Science Birmingham and Prosser Company
1955 W. Wallace Kent Judge of the U.S. District Court, Western Doctor of Laws Division of Michigan
Leta G. Snow (Mrs. Harry) Founder of the Kalamazoo Symphony Master of Music Orchestra
Lysander Thomas White Director, City Service Petroleum, Inc. Master of Business Admin.
1956 William H. Bannan Warden of the State Prison of Southern Doctor of Public Administration Michigan
Olin W. Callighan Minerals and Chemicals Corporation of Master of Science America
Carlton H. Morris Senator, Sixth District, Michigan Doctor of Laws
Wade Van Valkenburg Speaker of the House of Representatives Doctor of Laws
1957 Harold E. Churchill President of Studebaker-Packard Corp. Doctor of Science
Bert H. Cooper Vice President, Kalamazoo Paper Co. and Master of Science Chairman of the Advisory Committee on Paper Technology
Roy A. Morter Former superintendent of Kalamazoo Doctor of Science State Hospital 3 ______Cyril H. Root Representative, Second Kalamazoo Master of Public Admin. District, Michigan State Legislature
1958 Bruce Catton Editor, American Heritage Doctor of Literature
John E. Fetzer President and General Manager of Fetzer Doctor of Laws Broadcasting Company
John Joseph Lee Chairman, Department of Special Education Doctor of Laws and Vocational Rehabilitation, Wayne State University 1959 Louis Calder Public benefactor, author, service to paper Doctor of Laws industry
David R. Tashjian Manager of Electronics Engineering Division, Doctor of Science Westinghouse Electric Corp.
1960 Norman Cousins Editor, Saturday Review of Literature, Doctor of Literature Writer
Karla H. Parker President of the National Congress of Parents Doctor of Laws and Teachers
Dael Lee Wolfle Administrative Secretary of the American Doctor of Science Association for the Advancement of Science
1961 Ray R. Eppert President, Burroughs Corporation, Electric Doctor of Laws Computers
Florence N. Hanes Botanist, collector, co-author of Flora of Doctor of Science Kalamazoo County
William H. Hastie Judge of the Third U. S. Circuit Court of Doctor of Laws Appeals, Philadelphia, PA
1962 Alfred Barnes Connable Private trustee, member of the Board of Doctor of Humanities Directors of the American Symphony Orchestra 4 ______Andrew W. Cordier Dean of the Graduate School of International Doctor of Laws Affairs, Columbia University
Weimer K. Hicks President, Kalamazoo College Doctor of Laws
1963 Simeon O. Adebo Permanent Representative of Nigeria at the Doctor of Laws United Nations
Avery O. Craven Visiting Distinguished Professor of History, Doctor of Laws President of the Mississippi Valley Historical Association
Dwight L. Stocker President, KVP Sutherland Paper Company Doctor of Laws
Florence B. Stratmeyer Professor of Education, Teachers College, Doctor of Education Columbia University
G. Mennen Williams Asst. Secretary of State for African Affairs and Doctor of Laws former Governor of Michigan
Russell C. Williams Chief of the Blind Rehabilitation Section of the Doctor of Humanities Veterans Administration's Department of Medicine and Surgery (he was blinded in WW II)
1964 Hugh Gardner Ackley Chairman of Department of Economics, Doctor of Laws University of Michigan and member of the President's Council of Economic Advisors
Alvin D. Loving, Sr. Executive Director of the Mayor's Committee Doctor of Humanities on Community Action for Detroit Youth
Charles J. Scanlon President of the Federal Reserve Bank of Doctor of Business Chicago Administration
Everett Gifford Upjohn Chairman of the Board, Upjohn Company Doctor of Laws
5 ______1965 Robert P. Briggs Executive Vice President, Doctor of Laws Consumers Power Company
Frederick Donner Doctor of Business Chairman of the Board, General Motors Administration
Urban T. Holmes Professor at the University of North Carolina Doctor of Literature
Charles S. Lewis Principal, Detroit Central High School Doctor of Humanities
George Romney Doctor of Laws Governor of Michigan
Robert Sargent Shriver Jr. Director of the Office of Economic Opportunity Doctor of Laws (Job Corps), Director of the Peace Corps
1966 Kenneth E. Boulding Economist, author, University of Michigan Doctor of Humanities faculty
Earl C. Kelley Distinguished Professor, Wayne State Doctor of Education University
Maurice F. Seay Dean of the College of Education, Michigan Doctor of Laws State University
Harold Taylor President, Sarah Lawrence College, Doctor of Laws Consultant in Education
William S. Woodfill Member, Mackinac Island State Park Doctor of Laws Commission, Grand Hotel owner, "founder" Michigan Tourist Council
1967 Chairman of Sociology Department, Robert Angell University of Michigan and Co-Director of the Doctor of Humanities Center for Research on Conflict Resolution
6 ______Agnes deMille Choreographer, dancer, author Doctor of Fine Arts
James A. Foxgrover President, Perkins-Goodwin Company Doctor of Laws
John A. Hannah President, Michigan State University Doctor of Laws
L. William Seidman Chairman of the Board, Grand Valley State Doctor of Laws College
1968 Lewis M. Branscomb Chairman of the Joint Institute of Laboratory Doctor of Science Astrophysics, University of Colorado
Robben W. Fleming President, University of Michigan Doctor of Laws
Dorothy L. Judd Civic Leader, Grand Rapids Doctor of Laws
1969 (April) Joseph Henry Evans Secretary of the United Church of Christ Doctor of Humanities
Jack Luin Hough Professor of Oceanography at University of Doctor of Science Michigan, author of Geology of the Great Lakes
William Grawn Milliken Governor of Michigan Doctor of Laws
1969 Edwin C. Berry Executive Director of the Chicago Urban Doctor of Laws League
1970 Wilma Thompson Donahue Gerontologist, Advisor to United States Doctor of Humanities Administration on Aging, former University of Michigan faculty member
Frederick J. Margolis, M.D. Kalamazoo pediatrician Doctor of Public Service 7 ______Charles I. Schottland Acting President of Brandeis University Doctor of Laws
Samuel J. Simmons Assistant Secretary for Equal Opportunity of Doctor of Public Service the Department of Housing and Urban Development
1970 Fred Wallace Haise, Jr. Apollo XIII Astronaut Doctor of Science
James Arthur Lovell, Jr. Apollo XIII Astronaut (Flight Commander) Doctor of Science
John Leonard Swigert, Jr. Apollo XIII Astronaut (Command Module Doctor of Science Pilot)
1971 Talbert Abrams Geographer, explorer, aerial photographer Doctor of Laws
Henry Lewis Batts, Jr. Founder and developer of Kalamazoo Nature Doctor of Science Center
Gwen Frostic Michigan artist, poet, publisher and WMU Doctor of Humanities alumna
Senator Robert Paul Griffin U. S. Senator from Michigan Doctor of Laws
Senator Philip A. Hart U. S. Senator from Michigan Doctor of Laws State superintendent of Public Instruction, John William Porter Michigan Doctor of Laws Community Education Director for the Robert Joseph Smithdas National Center for Blind-Deaf Youths and Doctor of Humanities Adults (he is blind & deaf)
1971 Teacher and researcher at the University of Anatol Rapoport Toronto Doctor of Humane Letters 8 ______Cornelia Augenstein Robinson Educator, civic leader, served on local and Doctor of Public Service state level committees
Daniel Martin Ryan Editor, Kalamazoo Gazette Doctor of Humanities
1972 Sister Mary Louse Bader President, Nazareth College Doctor of Laws
Helen Natalie Claytor National President, Young Women's Doctor of Public Service Christian Association
John F. Leyerle Director of the Centre for Medieval Doctor of Letters Studies, University of Toronto
Laurence K. Shook President of the Pontifical Institute of Doctor of Letters Medieval Studies at Toronto
1972 Russell H. Seibert Vice President for Academic Affairs, WMU Doctor of Humanities
1973 Herman R. Branson President, Lincoln University Doctor of Laws
Sixten Ehrling Conductor of the Detroit Symphony Doctor of Fine Arts Orchestra
Gerald R. Ford U. S. House of Representative, Minority Doctor of Laws Leader
Cleo Hartwig Doctor of Fine Arts Sculptress
Richard Upjohn Light Neurosurgeon, philanthropist, author, Doctor of Laws geographer, college trustee
Robert Butler MacVean Head of the University of the Valley of Guatemala Doctor of Humanities 9 ______Joan Wolfe Executive Secretary and founder of the Doctor of Public Service West Michigan Environmental Action Council
1973 (August) Cornelia Kennedy Federal District Court Judge, Detroit Doctor of Laws
Otis Milton Smith Michigan Supreme Court Justice, Doctor of Laws Chairman of Board of Trustees, Oakland University William Spoelhof Doctor of Laws President, Calvin College
1973 Henryk Szeryng [Not in any 1973 Commencement Doctor of Fine Arts programs]
James W. Miller President, Western Michigan University Doctor of Public Service
1974 Alphonse H. Aymond President and Chairman of the Board, Doctor of Public Service Consumers Power Company
Mary Coleman Michigan Supreme Court Justice Doctor of Laws
Robert Coles Social psychiatrist, author, known for Doctor of Humanities innovative work with the poor
Raymond L. Smith President of Michigan Technological Doctor of Science University
Albert Nathaniel Whiting Chancellor of North Carolina Central Doctor of Laws University
1976 William G. Birch, Sr. Physician, "Foster parent" of WMU's Doctor of Laws Physicians' Assistant Program
10 ______Lionel H. Newsom President, Central State University in Ohio Doctor of Laws
Burrhus F. Skinner Psychologist, founder of behavioral Doctor of Laws psychology
1977 Lynton K. Caldwell Teacher, environmentalist, Arthur C. Doctor of Laws Bentley Professor of Political Science and Environmental and Public Affairs, Indiana University
L. David Carley President of the Medical College of Doctor of Laws Wisconsin
Antonio C. Yamashita President Emeritus of the University of Doctor of Humane Letters Guam
1978 Gwendolyn Brooks Author, Pulitzer Prize winning poetress Doctor of Humanities
1979 Genevieve U. Gilmore Civic leader, established Art Center, active Doctor of Fine Arts in support of Kalamazoo Symphony Orchestra, Pretty Lake Vacation Camp 1979 Plastic surgeon in Grand Rapids, Ralph Blocksma, M.D. consultant, adjunct professor in Department Doctor of Medicine of Speech Pathology & Audiology, WMU
1980 Fred Keller Former Visiting Professor in WMU Doctor of Science Department of Psychology, distinguished researcher
Duane Roberts Kalamazoo community leader and WMU Doctor of Public Service graduate
Myong Won Suhr President, Chungnam National University Doctor of Laws
11 ______Jay Van Andel Chairman of Board, Amway Corporation Doctor of Business Admin.
1982 Morton Bloomfield Arthur Kingsley Porter Professor of English Doctor of Letters at Harvard University
Shirley Chisholm Democratic Congresswoman, U. S. House Doctor of Laws of Representatives
James Duncan President and CEO, First America Bank Doctor of Laws Corporation of Michigan
W. Bruce Thomas Executive Vice President of Accounting Doctor of Laws and Finance, U. S. Steel
Dale Lake Founder and President, Kalamazoo Valley Doctor of Letters Community College, served 15 years
1983 John Kemeny Professor of Mathematics at Dartmouth Doctor of Laws College
Erick Hawkins Leading American dancer, choreographer, Doctor of Fine Arts dance company owner
James Nelson Retired senior researcher at Upjohn. Doctor of Science Research, provided technical breakthrough in development of drug used to prevent organ transplant rejection Pinchas Zukerman Doctor of Fine Arts Violinist
Roger Smith Chairman and CEO, General Motors Doctor of Laws Corporation
12 ______1984 Josef Svoboda Teacher, architect, scenographer, theatrician Doctor of Fine Arts
Clement Greenberg Art critic and cultural figure Doctor of Fine Arts
Ronald L. Graham Director of Mathematical Sciences Research Center Doctor of Laws at AT&T Bell Labs, 1981 World Book Encyclopedia Scientist of the Year
Allan W. Ostar President, American Association of State Colleges Doctor of Laws and Universities; influential leader in American higher education
Bayard Rustin President, A. Philip Randolph Educational Fund. Doctor of Laws Active in national and worldwide endeavors for equal rights and humanities reform
Ambassador of education, particularly international Vincent McGugan education, former Foreign Service Officer Doctor of Public Service
1985 Third president of Grambling State University Joseph B. Johnson Doctor of Laws Kalamazoo chiropractor; active organizer of Latvian Valdis Muiznieks programs at Western Doctor of Laws
1986 Past President, Western Michigan University John T. Bernhard Doctor of Humane Letters
Paula L. Blanchard Doctor of Public Service Spouse of Governor of Michigan
Engineer, former Vice President for Engineering, Gordon H. Millar John Deere Company Doctor of Science
1986 Richard E. Sullivan Professor of History, Michigan State University, Specialty: Middle Ages Doctor of Humane Letters 13 ______1986 Damon J. Keith Circuit Judge, U. S. Court of Appeals Doctor of Humane Letters
1986 Clarice C. Jones Outgoing president, American Association of Doctor of Public Service Retired Persons
1987 Dennis W. Archer, Jr. Michigan Supreme Court Justice Doctor of Laws
Wen Chao Chen Former administrator, Kalamazoo College; civic Doctor of Public Service leader
Leicester W. Farmer Blind rehabilitation/mobility specialist affiliated with Doctor of Public Service Veterans Administration Hospital, IL
Siegfried Englemann Professor, Special Education, University of Oregon Doctor of Education
1987 Datuk Abdullah Ahmad Badawi Minister of Defense, Malaysia Doctor of Public Service
1988 Morris W. Hood, Jr. State Representative, Michigan Doctor of Laws
1988 Nelson Mandela South African human rights/anti-apartheid activist Doctor of Humanities
1989 Yoshimi Takeda Conductor, Kalamazoo Symphony Orchestra Doctor of Music
1989 Tadao Ishikawa President, Keio University, Japan Doctor of Public Administration
James B. Wyngaarden, MD Former Director, National Institutes of Health Doctor of Science 14 ______1990 Yehudi Menuhin World renowned violinist/conductor Doctor of Fine Arts
1990 William D. Ford U. S. Congressman, 15th District, Michigan Doctor of Laws
Fred W. Adams Former Trustee, Western Michigan University Doctor of Public Service
1991 John M. Engler Governor of the State of Michigan Doctor of Laws
1992 Hans-Erick Keller Professor of Romance Languages, Ohio State Doctor of Humane Letters University, Medievalist
1992 William E. LaMothe Former CEO of Kellogg Company of Battle Doctor of Public Service Creek, Michigan
1992 Howard Wolpe U. S. Congressman, 1978-1992 Doctor of Public Service
1992 Jurgen Schneider Doctor of Fine Arts
1993 William U. Parfet President, The Upjohn Company, Kalamazoo, Doctor of Public Service Michigan Paul Erdos Professor, Mathematical Institute, Hungarian Doctor of Science Academy of Sciences, Budapest, Hungary 1993 Frederic W. Sammons Occupational Therapist and Chairman, Fred Doctor of Public Service Sammons, Division, Bissell Healthcare, Corp.
15 ______1994 Chairman of the Board, OMG Cerutti S.p.A., Madame Tere Cerutti Casale Monferrato, Italy; leader in the print Doctor of Science communication industry and contributor to WMU Printing Management and Research Center
1994 Physician who practiced in Kalamazoo Doctor of C. Allen Alexander, M.D. community for 65 years Public Service
1994 Founder of Sunway College in Kuala Lumpur, Dató Dr. Jeffrey Cheah, DPMS Malaysia, and President & Chief Executive Doctor of Education Officer, The SungeiWay Group, Malaysia
1995 Vice President Emeritus for Regional Richard T. Burke, Ph.D. Doctor Education and Economic Development and of Public Service Associate Professor Emeritus of History, Western Michigan University
1995 Marilyn J. Schlack President, Kalamazoo Valley Community College Doctor of Public Service
1996 Jack P. Ragotzy Owner, Barn Theatre, Augusta, Michigan Doctor of Theatre Arts
Betty Ebert Ragotzy Posthumous Doctor of Theatre Arts
1996 Paul C. Hillegonds Speaker of the House, Michigan House of Doctor of Public Service Representatives
1997 Lü Bisong Doctor of Humane Letters President, Beijing New Asia University
16 ______1998 Tim Allen Comedian, actor, author, 1976 WMU Doctor of Fine Arts Bachelor of Science degree
Diether H. Haenicke President, Western Michigan University Doctor of Humane Letters
1998 Jack Moss Kalamazoo Gazette Sports Editor Doctor of Public Service
1999 James Paul Hickey Alumnus, ABC Network News Correspondent and Doctor of Public Service Anchor
Charles Perricone Doctor of Public Service Speaker, Michigan House of Representatives
2000 Alumna, Broadway Actress and two-time Tony Marin Mazzie Doctor of Fine Arts Award nominee
John J. H. Schwarz, M.D. Doctor of Public Service Senator, State of Michigan
2001 Donald Gilmer Former Representative, State of Michigan Doctor of Public Service and Commissioner, Michigan Bureau of State Lottery 2002 Harry Gast State Senator Doctor of Public Service
Elson S. Floyd Doctor of Public Service President, Western Michigan University
2003 Zack York Emeritus Professor, Department of Theatre, Doctor of Fine Arts Western Michigan University 2003 Susan B. Anthony Doctor of Fine Arts Alumna, singer 17 ______2006 Vaclav Havel Former President of Czechslovakia / Czech Republic Doctor of Humanities
Arnost Lustig Survivor of the Holocaust, publisher 20+ novels and Doctor of Humanities short stories.
2006 Jacqueline Mallinson Science Educator Doctor of Science
Richard Enslen Federal Judge Doctor of Law
2007 James Hettinger Exemplary, Local Economic Development, Battle Doctor of Public Service Creek Unlimited
2008 Mr. William Hough Exceptional Service in Science and Education, South Doctor of Science Pole exploration, early computer research, professor
2009 Mr. Ngawangthondup Narkyid Tibetan monk, Acolyte to the Dalai Lama, Emissary Doctor of Laws for Tibetan Government-in-Exile, spiritual leader and scholar
2011 Ligia Amado Melo de Cardona Minister of Higher Education, Science, and Technology, Doctor of Humane Letters Dominican Republic
18 ______2016 Michel Legrand Pianist, Composer, Conductor of International renown, Doctor of Humane Letters featured arts of the Gilmore Keyboard Festival
2017 Antonio R. Flores WMU Alumnus, President and CEO of Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities. Leader in Education for U.S. Latino community
19 ______