OBITUARY FOR DR. DAVID MARION DELO

Journal of Geoscience Education, Jan 2005

David M. Delo, former president of the University of Tampa, died October 31, 2004, in Seminole, Florida of congestive heart failure two months shy of his 99th birthday. Born in Mt. Morris, Illinois, he had been a resident of the Tampa Florida Bay Area since 1958.

During his 13-year tenure as president of the University of Tampa, he was credited with adding 10 buildings, doubling the size of the student body, and doubling faculty salaries. He also increased the annual budget six-fold without a single deficit year. After his retirement in 1971, he served as the university chancellor for two years.

Following his retirement, Dr. Delo relocated to Pinellas County. He served for a time as charter Executive Director of the Executive Service Corps of Tampa and as a teacher, and advisor for the Tampa Preparatory School.

A 30-year Kiwanian, Dr. Delo served on the Board of the local Florida educational television channel WEDU for 32 years and while a resident of Tampa had, at various times, served on the boards of the Children's' Home, United Way, red Cross, Tampa Symphony, Independent Colleges and Universities of Florida, the Greater Tampa Chamber of Commerce, and several educational organizations.

A member of Phi Beta Kappa, Delo graduated from Miami University of Ohio (1926), earned a M. A. from the University of Kansas (1928(, and a Ph. D. from Harvard (1935). He was a founder and later president of the National Association of Geology Teachers (NAGT) and the first Executive Director of the American Geological Institute (AGI).

After teaching in several mid-West colleges and universities and holding administrative positions in Washington, D. C. during and after World War II, Dr. Delo became president of Wagner College, Staten Island, New York. Following six years there, he took over the presidency of the University of Tampa.

Author and co-author of three books, the last being a summary of his tenure at UT ("The Last Rites Never Came") Dr. Delo also authored numerous technical articles. In addition to numerous civic and educational awards, Delo was awarded 5 honorary degrees by five different academic institutions, including an LL. D. from Miami of Ohio, and the U of South Florida and an L.H.D. from UT, and Rollins College, plus a D. Sc. From Hartwick College.

He is survived by his wife Estelle, a son, David Michael of Fort Collins, CO, and a daughter Diana Marie Betts of Superior, MT.

Contributions may be made to the Pinellas Association for Retarded Children, 3190 Tyrone Blvd., St. Pete, FL 33710