Influential Life Trustee passes away

Since BVU was founded in 1891, there have been many important figures to affect the pace of both the campus and surrounding community. One of these individuals, Dr. Howard Paul McCorkle has just passed away at the age of 99.

He was born on October 28, 1909 in Madison County, Iowa and attended school at Hudson and De Soto and went on to graduate from De Soto High School in 1927. The former Iowa State College alumni graduated in 1933, the same year he married Vivian Olson in Council Bluffs, Iowa.

In his early years, McCorkle started a construction company in Sac City, IA with his wife and two children, Shirley and Jack. He became a prominent member of society as the President of the Master Builders of Iowa, philanthropist, community volunteer, and member of the United Methodist Church. The McCorkle family undoubtedly became a fixture of the community and regularly granted students with scholarships and grant money.

"I received a scholarship from the McCorkle family that helped me complete my education and graduate work and would not have been able to complete my education without the scholarship. I started with a Master's degree and now I have a Ph. D because of the McCorkle family. Even though I don't know them personally, they're the sweetest people you could ever meet, and very down to earth. I'm very sorry to see them both go," Dr. Bruce Ellingson said. From 1978 until 2006, McCorkle served as a Life Trustee and also as Chair of the Board of Directors at BVU from 1992 until 1994. There have been many scholarships and one of the dormitories (McCorkle Hall) named after the McCorkle family at BVU. Although both Paul and Vivian McCorkle are no longer with us, their two children, Shirley Bartlett of Dallas, Texas and Jack McCorkle of Redington Beach, Florida and their children will keep their memories' alive.