In recognition of his years of dedicated service and contributions to the success of Colby Community College,  Roger Hale has been selected as the 2013 Honorary Associate Degree recipient.
Hale began his career in 1966 at Colby Community College teaching Psychology, History, Government and Sociology.   In addition to teaching on campus, he traveled to several outreach locations to teach courses during the evening hours and conducted numerous weekend classes, workshops and seminars. He also served for many years as the Division Chair and was the college counselor in addition to his other duties.  Hale began his career at CCC teaching in the basement of the Cooper Hotel before the campus was moved to its present location.  He retired in 2001.
“I began teaching at the college the same year they hired Dr. Richard Mosier,” said Hale.  “We only had a few instructors so many of us taught several subjects.  I worked for Dr. Mosier, Dr. James Tangeman and Dr. Mikel Ary.”
Dr. Richard Mosier writes in his book, Against All Odds, “Donald Mildrexler, mathematics, was appointed as chair of the Faculty Advisory Board to assist the president in the overall planning and development of the Colby Community Junior College.  W.D. McNeely, newly appointed chemistry and physics instructor, and Betty Fitzsimmons, speech and drama, were also appointed as members of the Board.  New faculty members were Sherry Stosikpof, Lawrence Mahoney, Roger Hale, W.D. McNeely and Ruth Lowenthal as head librarian.
Also in Dr. Mosier’s book, Hale is quoted saying, “I remember one Friday afternoon when Dr. Mosier came over to the faculty offices in the Morrison Building.  We were all gathering around talking about the new campus.  Someone made the suggestion to go look at the site.  We all loaded up in cars.  I rode in Ken Maricle’s Thunderbird convertible.  We pulled into the short driveway, which is now College Drive but then was the driveway to the Brown residence.  We got out and looked across the field to the south.  The President said, ‘Can’t you see a great college out there?’  The truth is, I saw a wheat field.  I have thought many times about the warm fall day when we all went out to that wheat field and visualized what might be to come.  I still have that vision of buildings in the wheat field that Dr. Mosier painted for us.  An unplanned event, or maybe it was planned unknown to the faculty, certainly made a change in my life.”
Hale received his Bachelor’s Degree in psychology from Fort Hays State University.  He also received his Master’s Degree in psychology and counseling from Fort Hays.
He was selected to receive the Tangeman Award for teaching excellence in 1994.  That same year his son Ryan graduated from Colby Community College.
Prior to his tenure at CCC, he taught for one year at the high school in Schoenchen.
“The biggest change I experienced during my years at CCC was the growth of technology,” said Hale.  “Everything changed including grading, enrolling and other services.”
Hale lives in Colby with his mother Junia who recently had her 95th birthday.
He has two adult children.  Ryan and his wife Paula have two children and live in Colby.  Ryan is a psychology instructor and counselor at CCC.  His daughter Dana is a Medical Assistant in Scottsdale, Ariz.
The Honorary Degree will be conferred during Commencement ceremonies on Saturday, May 11, at 2 p.m. in the Colby Community Building.   Everyone is invited to the reception which will be held following the ceremony in the basement of the Community Building.