APRIL/MAY 2001
OBITUARIES
Manuel Leon Ponce
Manuel Leon Ponce, 55, a professor of interior design at FSU, died of brain cancer Jan. 9.
He received the Teaching Incentive Award at FSU in 1994 and 1999, and conducted courses for Florida designers and architects.
He was sole proprietor of Design Arts Seminar.
Contributions to the Manuel Leon Ponce Memorial Scholarship Endowment
may be sent to the FSU Foundation, 225 University Center, Suite
3100C, Tallahassee, FL 32306-2660.
Herbert Wills III
Herbert Wills III, 70, a math education professor at Florida State for more than 30 years, died Nov. 30.
A native of Downers Grove, Ill., he received bachelor's and master's degrees from Eastern Illinois University and a doctorate from the University of Illinois. He taught as an assistant professor at the University of Illinois before he came to Florida.
Dr. Wills was a math education professor at Florida State University from 1967 until he retired in 1998.
"Dr. Wills was very devoted to the mathematics education students and spent numerous hours advising them," said Janice Flake, professor of education theory. "He also was very dedicated to stimulating the students' thinking with many puzzles and problems."
A former student also remembers Dr. Wills.
"He was an outstanding educator," said Bill Montford,
Leon County school superintendent and FSU graduate ('B.S. 69,
M.S. '71), who had Dr. Wills his first semester at FSU. "He
was extremely talented academically and the way he related to
students was really incredible."
Mary B. Settle
Mary B. Settle, an alumna who taught physical education at Flo-rida State and did distinguished work with the Red Cross during and after World War II, died Jan. 9 at the age of 91.
She graduated from Florida State College for Women with a bachelor's degree in education in 1931. She was the student government president and class president. She also participated in varsity sports and taught the debate team.
From 1932 to 1941 she was a faculty member of the department of physical education at Florida State College for Women.
She became a national consultant for recreation in the Works Progress Administration in Washington. In 1942 she became assistant director for recreation of the American Red Cross, and in 1943 she was assistant to the director of Military and Naval Welfare Services, which took her to battle fronts in the Pacific and Atlantic theatres.
After the war she was chief of personnel training, director of Red Cross services, in hospitals and national director of training from 1953 until she retired in 1973.
She represented the 1931 FSCW class as its permanent president in the FSU Alumni Association and served on the Alumni Association's board of directors. She was a member of honor societies Spirogira and Mortar Board.
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E. Lucille Higgs
E. Lucille Higgs, 78, died Dec. 26.
A native of Louisville, Ky., she had lived in Tallahassee since 1949. She worked for FSU libraries for 35 years, beginning in reference and periodicals, when the library was located in Dodd Hall.
She retired in 1984 as assistant director for administrative services. Ms. Higgs received degrees from the University of Tennessee and the University of North Carolina.
Jack Paul Swartz
by Nancy Fowler
professor, FSU School of Music
Jack Paul Swartz, professor of music at Florida State from 1957 until 1978, died on Dec. 15 at age 80.
He had a B.A. degree from Illinois Wesleyan, an M.A. from George Peabody College for Teachers and an Ed. D. from the University of Kansas.
Dr. Swartz, a specialist in community colleges,
commuted to South Florida to conduct in-service workshops. At
FSU he taught teacher-training courses for community and college
faculty. He observed music education interns all over Florida.
He taught seminars for doctoral students and class piano lab,
and he wrote "The Collegiate Class Piano Course."
He may have set a record in the country for the number of dissertations
directed.
One of those students, Clifford Madsen, chairman
of music education area, described Dr. Swartz as a "visionary
of his time."
In 1959, Dr. Swartz founded the Tallahassee Youth Orchestra.
A versatile musician, he was director of the Tallahassee Community
Band, later renamed the Capital Band, and choir director of St.
John's Episcopal Church. He was also a composer and singer.
Dr. Swartz came to FSU from Flagstaff, Arizona, where he taught at Northern Arizona University and started the Flagstaff Symphony and the Summer Music Camp.
After he retired from FSU he was active in the Retired Faculty Club, the board of the Senior Citizen Center, the Monticello Opera Co., and the Community Band.
Personally, Jack was a friend to all; he loved to be with family and friends. He encouraged the best in everyone.