5/1/08

William LaShier

New education scholarship honors former professor

LAWRENCE — When William LaShier came to the KU School of Education in 1965, he couldn’t have anticipated the influence he would have on students or the fond memories he would leave behind.

Bill passed away July 1, 2007. In his honor, his friends, family, former students and colleagues have created a new scholarship fund at KU Endowment.

“He was a real Jayhawk fan and loved his students,” said his wife, Patricia. “Even as he was becoming ill, he said he was ready to be back in the classroom. He was just born to teach.”

LaShier worked closely with doctoral students in science education, and it is those students who will benefit from the William S. LaShier Jr. Scholarship in Education.

Joel Colbert, a student of LaShier’s from 1974 to 1977, said he came to KU because of Bill. He was so impressed with Prof. LaShier when he visited Lawrence that he moved KU to the top of his list of doctoral programs to attend.

“I came to visit KU one summer, and Bill was in his office,” he said. “I didn’t have an appointment, and he welcomed me in as if I was an old friend. He made me feel so welcome that I was instantly interested in going to KU.

“Bill advised me on the spot, told me that he would start looking for some funds to help me through the program, and just treated me like a friend and colleague, not a stranger. I felt at home with him.”

Colbert, now a professor and director of the Ph.D. in education program at Chapman University in California, said he wouldn’t have accomplished what he has without LaSheir’s help.

“I met with Bill often, especially during my dissertation stage, and he made sure I had financial support and faculty support to get through the process,” Colbert said. “I try to model my doctoral student advising after his approach. He really was a mentor to me on advising students.”

After earning an undergraduate degree from Texas Tech University, and master’s and doctoral degrees from the University of Texas, LaShier came to KU as a professor of teaching leadership. He quickly came to love Lawrence. He was a professor for 37 years and a Jayhawk for life.

LaShier is remembered for his laid-back, nurturing personality, his sense of adventure, his thought-provoking classes and the way he treated his students like family. Colbert said it wasn’t unusual for students to attend gatherings at the LaShier home or be invited to dinner.

His love for adventure didn’t stop with his teaching, though. Pat LaShier said Bill loved to go windsurfing at Clinton Lake. He traveled to Hawaii, the Caribbean and Tahiti for scuba diving and biking.

After Bill’s retirement in 2002, the couple remained in Lawrence for a few more years before moving to Sioux Falls, S.D., to be near family. Bill LaShier is buried at KU’s Pioneer Cemetery on west campus.

Pat LaShier — also a Jayhawk fan — was a KU employee for 23 years. She worked in the Department of Special Education, helping to write federal grants, then worked as an assistant comptroller.

“I want to thank everyone who has donated to the fund,” she said. “I’m sincerely touched by their generosity. Bill’s students meant the world to him, and so would this.”

KU Endowment is the independent, nonprofit foundation serving as the official fundraising and fund-management organization for KU. Founded in 1891, KU Endowment is the first foundation of its kind at a U.S. public university.

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