CHAPTER NINE

Within a year Rocky Mountain College came calling through the help of my twin brother John,who was teaching part time at RMC. It was a tough decision, but on August 1, 1961 I became Director of Guidance and Assistant Professor of Psychology at Rocky in Billings, MT. Peter was born in Billings. Upon the retirementof the Registrar I was asked by the President if I would like to be either Dean of Students or Registrar. Since I had worked closely with the Registrar for three years it was an easy choice to make. In the Fall of 1964 I was appointed Registrar and Associate Professor of Psychology. During the following years I was to teach each Semester as well as carry out the duties of the other office. When President Widenhouse was diagnosed with cancer Dean Small was appointed Acting President and I became Associate Dean, Associate Prof. of Psychology, and Registrar. Following this brief period I was appointed Dean of Admissions and Records and Associate Professor of Psychology. In July 1973 I again was appointed as Acting Dean of the College and that summer had my first heart by-pass surgery in Denver. The next year I became Academic Dean and Registrar. I held this position for five years while the College was in continuing financial stress. When it became apparent that the College was in the position to hire I wrote to President Alton my feeling that we should look for a full time person as Dean and submitted my resignation to return to my first love as Registrar and teacher. From 1981 to 1988 I served as Registrar and Director of the Summer Session, and taught psychology. In 1988 Dr. Arthur DeRosier became President of the College and I was asked to serve fulltime as Registrar. We were by that time moving into the Computer Age and my Apple IIe was no longer adequate. I note thatmy response to Dr. DeRosier was to accept and to continue work with the administration “for at least two more years.” Those two years became six before I retired on July 31, 1994. For THE sake of convenience I list below my appointed positions from 1961 to 1994:

POSITIONS AND TIME FRAME
1961-1964 Asst. Prof. of Psych and Director of Guidance
1964-1965 Registrar and Assistant Professor
1965-1966 Registrar, Director of Admissions, Asst. Prof.
1966-1967 Associate Dean and Registrar
1967-1972 Dean of Admissions & Records and Asso. Prof.
1972-1977 Academic Dean, Registrar and Asso. Prof.
1977-1988 Associate Prof., Registrar, Director/Summer Session
1988-1994 Registrar,Associate Professor
July 31,1994 Retirement after 33 years.

Over these years I served as Interim Pastor at a number of churches including the First Baptist Church in Billings; the St. Paul’s United Church of Christ in Billings; and the Community Congregational Church in Molt, MT. I also served as a member of the Board of the Montana Association of Churches; the General Board of the American Baptist Churches, and the Statements of Concern Committee (one term as Chair); on the policy board and one term as President of the Big Sky Area of American Baptist Churches of the Northwest; the Billings School Board; Treasurer and then Chair of the Yellowstone County Democratic Central Committee. I have been active in the Billings Studio Theatre on stage and as the RMC representative in the early years when the theatre moved on campus. From July 1998 to March 2000 I served as Interim Pastor of the First Baptist Church of Billings. I had also served in that role for 6-8 months in 1962.
After retirement my life is filled with reading, playing on the computer, and when the weather allows playing some golf. That activity ended when my left knee gave out. I have also played small roles in “The Miracle Worker” and “Our Town” at the Billings Studio Theatre. In addition I have served on the Board of the Institute for Peace Studies at RMC, on the Executive Committee and as Secretary to the Board for a number of years.

So, life has been full in retirement.