Former Williamson President Barry Schuler Passes Away

We regret to inform the Williamson community of the passing of Barry G. Schuler, who served as Williamson’s president from 1987-1996. He died Feb. 3 at the age of 89.

President Michael Rounds said, “It is with great sadness that I announce the passing of Williamson’s former president Barry Schuler. Barry served Williamson for nine years with great dedication. During his tenure the Horticulture, Landscaping, and Turf Management Program was added to our trade offerings, several major construction projects took place, and he established a full-time chaplaincy. He hired Rev. Mark Specht 7W7 as chaplain, who is still our chaplain and part of Barry’s legacy. Our thoughts and prayers go out to his family.”

During Schuler’s presidency the Horticulture, Landscaping, and Turf Management Program was added to Williamson’s curriculum, the Lipp Education Center was built, the Restall Sports Center was built, and the chaplaincy was established.

His wife, Ruth, in her 2018 book, A Light in the Heather, from Nazi Germany to Minnesota, wrote “While at Williamson we made lifelong friends and when it came time for us to retire we did so with great sadness. But all our happy memories are still with us and every so often we fly back to Williamson and all the wonderful people who made that place special. In all of my husband’s career, I believe those years at Williamson were the happiest of our life.”

Prior to coming to Williamson, Schuler was president of North Idaho College in Coeur d’Alene, ID, from 1968-86; and at the University of Minneapolis, MN, he was an admissions officer, dean of students, and dean of instruction, from 1962-68.

Earlier, he was senior administrative assistant at Control Data Corp., Bloomington, MN, from 1962-64, an administrative intern at the Navy Dept. in Washington, D.C., for the summer of 1960, and a civil service technician at the Minnesota Civil Service Dept., in St. Paul, MN, from 1957-58.

At the University of Minnesota, he earned a bachelor of arts degree in psychology with a minor in political science, magna cum laude; a master’s degree in public administration; and completed advanced graduate work toward a Ph.D. in political science. He earned a certificate at the Harvard University-Institute for Educational Management.

He served in the U.S. Army’s Medical Corp. in Germany from 1955-57.

In retirement, he moved to Bainbridge Island, Washington state, where he was an active member of Cross Sound Church. He also was known for his large collection of electric trains.

A funeral will be held at 2 p.m., Saturday, Feb. 26, at Port Madison Lutheran Church on Bainbridge Island. It will be available to view by Zoom through the Port Madison Lutheran Church website at: https://web.portmadisonlutheranchurch.org/home.

Please keep Barry’s wife Ruth and the rest of his family in your prayers.