Walter Castella Coffey Photo via Univ. of MN |
He was a son of Calvin Allen and Josephine Simmonds Coffey, born Feb. 1, 1876 in Bartholomew Co., IN and died on Jan. 31, 1956 in Orlando, Orange Co., FL. Calvin descended from Edward through his son John.
Walter had a long and distinguished career in Agricultural education. According to a memorial published by the University of Minnesota, Walter grew up in Hartsville, IN. As a youngster he assisted his father with sheep raising. He attended both Hartsville College and earned a two-year degree from Franklin College. Afterwards, he spent several years teaching at various schools across Indiana.
He went to the University of Illinois in about 1906 where he worked as a "herdsman." and where he learned of an opening at there for "...someone to teach sheep raising." He applied for and was given the job and continued to advance, eventually becoming Dean of the University of Wisconsin at St. Paul where he served from 1941 until his retirement on June 30, 1945.
During his lifetime, Walter served on the Federal Reserve Bank of Minnesota board, Association of Land Grant Colleges, Minnesota YMCA and Hamline University where he served as acting president from June, 1952 until January, 1953 while the school searched for a permanent president. In 1949 the Admin building on the University of Minnesota campus at St. Paul was renamed Coffey Hall in his honor.
In a memorial published by the Journal of Animal Science in 1957 it was written that he was a member of Sigma Xi, Sigma Alpha Epsilon, Alpha Zeta, Gamma Sigma Delta, and Phi Kappa Phi. He was an honorary life member of the Minnesota Horticultural as well as the State Agricultural Societies. He was a Rotarian, a Mason, a member of the Minneapolis Club, the Campus Club, the Hinikahda Golf Club and a layman of the Methodist Church in America.
Lardner A. Coffey The Ariel, Lawrence College Appleton, WI 1933 |
¹"Michigan Marriages 1868-1925", index and images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/N3VM-GBD : accessed 20 Jun 2014), Walter C. Coffey and Jennie C. Lardner, 14 Aug 1907; citing Big Rapids, Mecosta, Michigan, v 3 p 417 rn 3778, Department of Vital Records, Lansing; FHL microfilm 2342678.
²Lardner A. Coffey, 1933, Ariel Yearbook, Lawrence College, Appleton, WI. From St. Paul, MN, he was a member of Sigma Phi Epsilon; Football 1 thru 4; "L" Club and Physics Club.
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