W. Robert Parks, Iowa State’s eleventh and longest serving president, died early Sunday after prolonged illnesses. He was 87 years old.

“He had an enduring deep belief in the value of education,” said Olivia M.A. Madison, dean of library services. “Everything he did supported that scope of education.”

In 1948, Parks became a professor of government at Iowa State College before leaving in 1956 to take a professor position in agricultural economics at the University of Wisconsin. He later returned to Iowa State and established both the Honors Program and the National Merit Scholars program as the dean of instruction in 1958. In 1961, Parks became the vice president of academic affairs before being named the president of Iowa State in 1965.

In his presidential inaugural address March 22, 1966, Parks explained the “new humanism” approach he saw for the future of Iowa State.

“The push and pressure will always be on for increasing the university’s competence as a producer of specialized knowledge. And this is as it should be,” Parks said. “I welcome such vigor within our institution. However, as Iowa State widens and diversifies its activities as a university, its faculty must together, as a collective entity, assume that general responsibility, which belongs to no one discipline, of overlaying and permeating our varied educational programs with the unifying philosophy of a ‘new humanism.'”

Parks oversaw the growth of Iowa State from a college to a university, Madison said.

“[Becoming a] university was possible through his vision of what [Iowa State] could be,” she said. “He laid the foundation to where we are today.”

During his 21 years as president of Iowa State, the College of Education, the College of Design and the College of Business and Administration were created in addition to 40 new undergraduate degrees and 30 new graduate majors, according to library archives. From 1965 to 1986, enrollment was increased by 90 percent, according to library archives.

Aside from his duties at Iowa State, Parks also served as a lieutenant in the U.S. Navy during World War II, the head of the National Association of State Universities and Land Grant Colleges, the Association of American Universities, Mid-America State Universities Association and the Association of Iowa College Presidents.

Parks received a bachelor’s degree from Berea College in Kentucky in 1937, a master’s degree from the University of Kentucky in 1938 and a Ph.D. from the University of Wisconsin in 1948, all in political science, according to library records. The University of Kentucky, Bear College, Westmar College in Iowa and Drake University have all granted Parks honorable degrees.

In 1969, Parks became only the second person to be named an honorary alumnus of Iowa State, according to library archives. Parks became the first recipient of the Christian Petersen Design Award for his involvement in the development of the College of Design, according to library archives.

In 1984, the university honored Parks and his wife, Ellen Sorge Parks, by naming the campus library W. Robert and Ellen Sorge Parks Library. Ellen considered the library “the essence of the university,” according to library archives.

“They were a remarkable team,” Madison said.

Ellen died in 1999.

In a speech given at the dedication of the library on June 8, 1984, Parks expressed both his gratitude and expectations for the future of the library.

“The real dedication which we must make here today, then, is not just that of formally attaching to the library the names of two deeply grateful and highly honored persons,” Parks said. “Rather, this is an occasion on which all members of this university community and its friends and supporters must rededicate themselves to the continuing and vigorous effort to achieve and retain the library excellence upon which this university’s future quality so greatly depends on.”

ISU President Gregory Geoffroy expressed his condolences to the family and friend of Parks.

“Everyone in the Iowa State University family is deeply saddened by the death of W. Robert Parks, and we extend our sympathy to Dr. Parks’ family and his many friends,” ISU President Gregory Geoffroy said in a written statement. “President Parks was one of the truly great Presidents of Iowa State University, and he directed in so many ways its development from a college into a truly broad-based, international university. Iowa State is an outstanding university today thanks in large part to the leadership of Dr. Parks, and he will be missed.”

Madison revered Parks as a warm and generous man.

“I was honored to know him and work indirectly with him,” she said.

A memorial service, followed by a reception, will be held Sunday, July 20 at 2 p.m. in the Sun Room of the Memorial Union.