Support UI: Idaho Treasures Award Search Results

2003
Cross, Bert
Grah, Elna
Miller, Maynard

2004
Haggart, Peter and Margaret
Johnson, Maurice
Peek, James and Pat

2005
Everson, Dale and Darlene
Samuelson, Everett and Lois

2006
Chavez, Ed
Edmund “Ed” Chavez joined the faculty of the University of Idaho in 1951 having earned his BA in the history and a Master of Fine Arts in Theatre Arts. He met his wife, Judy and spent their school year in Moscow and their summers in Ashland, Oregon where Ed worked for the Oregon Shakespeare Festival. In later years, with the successful introduction of the Summer Theatre program, Ed spent his time in Moscow year around with his family.

In 1967, Ed became the department head of Theatre Arts and in 1972 oversaw the building of the Performing Arts Center, our current Hartung Theatre. The following year, Ed and family headed to England for a sabbatical leave where he taught English Melodrama at the University of Manchester. In 1977 he won a Fulbright lectureship to teach theatre in Mexico City at the national university.

With the opening of the ASUI-Kibbie Activity Center, Ed was named Manager of the Dome, until his retirement in 1987.

Active in the Moscow community; Ed was a founding member of the Moscow Community Theatre, very involved in the planning of the Moscow Centennial Celebration. Assisting on campus, Ed was active with the UI Centennial celebration. With his expertise and skill, he was appointed to lead the complex planning of Presidential Inaugurations for Dr. Zinser and Dr. Hoover’s. Also he took on the task of “wedding planner” for Elizabeth Zinzer as she married Don Mackin in the Arboretum.

Ed and Judy, generously have shared with the University of Idaho, in establishing several scholarship funds, one in History Department and more recently a scholarship in Foreign Languages for students studying language in their native country.

Through his busy half century in Moscow, Ed has been active sharing his time with University of Idaho including major efforts with theatre arts, UIRA and the Alumni Relations Office.

Mann, Elsie
Elsie Mann is a lifelong public servant. She and her husband Paul first came to the University of Idaho campus in 1948. But they grew up half a country block apart in the Lewiston Orchards—his family at the bottom of the hill and hers at the top on 14th Street. She was born as the fifth child of Francis Ernest and Ruth Millay in Lewiston.

Education has always been a core to the Millay and Mann families. Elsie graduated from Lewiston High School in 1937 and completed teaching courses two years later at Lewiston Normal. Elsie’s first job was to teach about 20 first and second graders at Bovill for two school years. She then returned to school, receiving a bachelor’s degree from the UI in 1943.

Paul, also a UI graduate, was an electrical engineer for Westinghouse in Wilkinsburg, PA, a suburb of Pittsburgh. The couple married in 1944.
Elsie and Paul filled the Mann household with their five children Michael, Mary Ruth, Margaret Sue, Elsie, Patrick and David.

Elsie supported higher education through the UI chapter of the American Association of University Women, UI engineering wives, and UI Home Economics Extension Club. For years they were key components of the golden era of Camp Fire Girls. She wore the red blazer and saluted with a black cane at Moscow Chamber of Commerce ribbon cutting events.

She was among a core group that established Volunteers in Moscow. Other community associations for Elsie have been support for Moscow Head Start, Latah County Historical Society, and Moscow Kiwanis.
Elsie still lives in the Mann’s original Moscow home on Walenta Drive at the entrance to University Heights. She is frequently visible at campus and city events and is a living treasure in the Moscow community.

2007
Caldwell, Shirley
Shirley was born in Lincoln Nebraska. She received her Bachelor of Art degree from the University of Nebraska and married Harry H. Caldwell in 1946. They moved to Moscow in 1948 where her husband became an instructor of geography. He retired as professor emeritus of geography. Shirley received her masters degree in secondary education from the University of Idaho in 1970 and she then went on to teach Social Studies and English in Moscow Junior High for 11 years.

Shirley and Harry established the Harry and ShirleyCaldwell Scholarship Endowment in 1988 which is awarded to deserving students each year by the Department of Geography. She established the Shirley Grossman Caldwell Scholarship Endowment in 1989. This scholarship is awarded to single mothers or fathers with children who are the primary caretakers of those children and are pursuing a degree at the University of Idaho. The Women's Center chooses the recipients and distributes the funds. Shirley also provided funds to furnish a seminar room in McClure Hall dedicated in her late husbands name.

Shirley has been active in local community affairs. She served for the Latah County Fair Board for eight years. She also served as the president of the Latah County Chapter of AARP for three years, and a member for six years. For many years she volunteered to help first graders at Russell School with their reading and more recently has volunteered with Hospice of the Palouse. She served on the board. She is an active member of the University of Idaho Retirees Association, and attends numerous campus events. She has a son Kenneth, and a daughter Claire.

Kleffner, Flip and Jo Ella
Flip and Jo Ella Kleffner have been recognized for their significant contributions and service to the university. They will be presented the Idaho Treasures Award by the University of Idaho Retirees Association at the November 8th Annual Meeting.

Flip has extensive service to UIRA, Latah County Vandal Boosters, Beta Theta Pi fraternity and community service in the Moscow area. Flip is an active member of UIRA, serving as president in 2001 and on the board of directors from 2001-2003. He is an honored retiree of the university serving as director of Alumni Relations for many years prior to retirement in 1996. He participated with reactivation of Latah County Vandal Booster chapter, assisting with the active fundraising elements for student athletes. He has assisted and serving with undergraduate Beta Theta Pi greek fraternity including housing corporation officer and support of local chapter. Currently, he is on the Gritman Medical Center foundation board of directors. He participates and displays his hand painted watercolors with local artists, and donates and supports community fine programs for all age groups.

Jo Ella assisted with leadership of Gamma Phi Beta housing corporation board of directors, including treasurer, also involved with local church group. She volunteers with a local thrift shop in Pullman serving the community on a weekly basis.

Both Flip and Jo Ella regularly attend and participate with University of Idaho alumni events, tours and programs. They also have served with University of Idaho Parent Board, and very active in university theatre performances, jazz festival and campus events. They support Moscow school district events and activities such as the hosting of guest school exchange students in the community. Active wit the local "meals on wheels" programs as well.

2008
John and Winifred Dixon
John and Winifred moved to Moscow in the fall of 1954. John joined the faculty in the Dept. of Agricultural Engineering ( later renamed the Dept. of Biological and Agricultural Engineering). In 1971, Winifred accepted a position as a government documents librarian in the University of Idaho Library.

Both retired from the University of Idaho in 1990. John is a Professor Emeritus of Agricultural Engineering and Winifred is an Honored Staff Retiree.

John and Winifred are active members of UIRA, the Latah County Historical Society and the Latah Chapter of the AARP. John is also active in the Moscow Central Lions Club and the American Legion and has been a member of the city's Board of Adjustments since 1996. Winifred, a 50-year member of the League of Women Voters, served as president of the Moscow Chapter from 1992-1994 and continues to take an active role in the group.

John and Winifred have also shared many dollars to the University of Idaho Arboretum Associates over many of the 30+ years that this organization has existed. John and Winifred have contributed to funding dedicated trees and groves in the Arboretum in addition to their annual membership in the Arboretum Associates.

John and Winifred have been members of the Vandal Boosters for many years through their active participation as well as their financial support. They regularly attend the various athletic events and other Vandal Booster activities. They follow the Vandal teams closely and take a special interest in getting to know the student athletes.

The Dixons will be honored and recognized during the Idaho Treasure Luncheon at the University Inn Best Western in Moscow on Thursday, November 6th. Cost of Idaho Treasure Luncheon is $14.00 each, deadline to RSVP for Treasure Luncheon is October 31st at 5:00 pm. Guests and community members are welcome to participate. Please contact Alumni Office/Amber Crowley 885-6160 or email uira@uidaho.edu to confirm your attendance at the luncheon. Pay at the door.

Moscow, ID 83844

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