Dr. William Harvey Wroten, Jr.
In Memoriam
March 18, 2006
President of Salisbury University, Janet Dudley-Eshbach's remarks on the passing of Dr. Wroten:
To the SU Community:
Dr. William Wroten, Professor Emeritus, died on Saturday, March 18,
2006. The SU flag has been lowered today in his memory.
A graduate of the Maryland college system (and a student here in
1938), Dr. Wroten came highly recommended to President Wilbur
Devilbiss, who brought Dr. Wroten to Salisbury University (then
Maryland State Teachers College at Salisbury) in 1955. A professor
of history, he served as chair of the department for 25 years before
his retirement, hiring many professors, including Drs. Robert Barry,
Harry Basehart, Clara Small, and Ray Thompson.
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While at the college, Dr. Wroten founded Phi Alpha Theta national
history honor society and was an early supporter of the history
resource center that eventually became the Edward H. Nabb Research
Center for Delmarva History and Culture, donating his personal
collection of local maps and papers to the center. All royalties
from his popular book, Assateague, continue to be directed to the
Nabb Research Center.
Dr. Wroten was especially close to the Class of 1959 for which he
served as its advisor from freshman through senior years. In
appreciation, the Class of 1959 has established a scholarship in Dr.
Wroten's name.
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The first recipient of this scholarship is to be
announced this May. Arrangements had been made to bring Dr. Wroten
to Salisbury University to witness the awarding of this scholarship.
Last year, Dr. Wroten established a Piano Concert Series in memory
of his late wife, Pat, who was a piano teacher and well-known
community member.
Dr. Wroten is one of a number of outstanding early faculty of this
institution who laid the foundation for Salisbury University's
educational excellence and student success. He will be remembered by
many faculty and staff and by a quarter century of students who
benefited from his teaching and support.
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Janet Dudley-Eshbach
President
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