Murphy Award Recipients

The Eugene W. Murphy Library Special Recognition Award recognizes those individuals or organizations that have made major contributions to the mission, program, and purposes of Murphy Library.

2007 D. Timothy Gerber, Ph.D.
D. Timothy (Tim) Gerber, Associate Professor of Biology, has been a champion for the Alice Hagar Curriculum Resource Center (AHCRC) for several years. He has been instrumental in providing information for future science, math, technology, and engineering teachers and with librarian John Jax has developed lists for science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) purchases to enhance the collections. In 2007 Tim was awarded a Paul Stry Foundation Grant for improving PK-12 teacher preparation using STEM resources. This grant funded $5,000 for purchasing library materials as well as funding a resource day for STEM teachers in the AHCRC. Tim has served many years as Biology Department liaison for collection development. He has been a member of the Faculty Senate Library Committee and has served as chair.

2005 Dr. Susan 'BOON' Murray
Dr. Murray, chair of the Department of Recreation Management and Therapeutic Recreation is an advocate for information literacy and undergraduate research. Her work in the field of bibliotherapy, a developmental therapy based on guided discussions about literature, poems, and short stories, has had a direct effect on Murphy Library resources and programs. Through Dr. Murray's sponsorship, UW-L undergraduates obtained an undergraduate research grant to support the design and evaluation of a bibliotherapy program for hospitalized children. Furthermore, Dr. Murray encourages learning by collaborating with Murphy Library so that students receive targeted information literacy instruction.

2004 Dr. Gregory P. Wegner
Dr. Wegner is a professor in the School of Education and has been a long-time active user and supporter of the library.  He is a recognized international authority in the field of educational history, particularly the educational system in Nazi Germany and has written books and articles.  In the process of doing research for these publications, he has used the collections and services of Murphy Library extensively.  Dr. Wegner is a great promoter of primary source materials housed in the Special Collections and Area Research Center (ARC). He consistently schedules time in the ARC for his undergraduate and graduate classes to introduce them to these materials. In addition, he has been the Regional Coordinator for National History Day since 1994. He has also worked to promote use of Murphy Library and Special Collections to students from area middle and high schools, increasing their exposure to primary materials in academic library collections.  Dr. Wegner, while serving on the Faculty Senate Library Committee, launched a survey on library use during January and May terms. The results helped the library determine hours and services for these two periods and led to funding for increased staffing and additional hours during those terms. He has supported Murphy Library Endowment efforts, donated materials for the collection, and has been an enthusiastic advocate for the library on campus.

2003 Dr. Dale L. Montgomery
Dr. Dale Montgomery, emeritus Director of Library Services, joined the university in 1977 as Director of the Library and Media Services. During his tenure he was instrumental in developing the Resource Center concept to consolidate the library, AV center, and other learning resources scattered around campus. The result was a $7.6 million building and remodeling project completed in 1995 after a decade of planning. Even when he held other administrative positions on campus beginning in June 1966, he continued to be a tremendous advocate for the library until his retirement in 1999. His other contributions include supporting the Murphy Library Endowment Fund and highlighting library resources as part of the Chancellor’s Inaugural Committee in 2001-2002.

2002 Dr. William J. and Yvonne M. Hyde
Dr. William Hyde, professor emeritus in the English Department from 1956-1992 has been a long supporter of the library. He played a key role in setting up the Billie J. Batchelor Trust Fund and has donated expensive reference books. Yvonne Hyde worked in the cataloging department of the library from 1957-1995.  After her retirement, she volunteered her expertise a couple of hours a day for about a year. Together, the Hydes have been active financial supporters of the Murphy Library Endowment.

2001 James A. Batesky
Dr. James A. Batesky, Professor in the Exercise and Sport Science Department, has a long history of interaction with Murphy Library and has participated in the library instruction program for many years. He takes an active role in shaping library instruction sessions by collaborating with librarians. He is also a big promoter of information literacy. His other contributions to the Murphy Library include library liaison for his department and membership on the Faculty Senate Library Committee.

2000 Edwin L. Hill
Ed Hill served as Special Collections Librarian and Directory of the Area Research Center (ARC) at Murphy Library for over three decades until his retirement in 1998. Under his leadership and vision the ARC developed into one of the preeminent centers in the Wisconsin State Historical Society’s network of regional depositories. In addition his contribution on campus and in the community have brought distinction to UW-L and Murphy Library.

1999 La Crosse Public Library
La Crosse Public Library has been a true partner in providing educational opportunities to UW-L community through its collections and services.  LCPL's resources complement and fill gaps in the collection at Murphy Library in such diverse areas as reference books, children's materials, popular materials including magazines, legal resources and government documents.  The Public Library Archives and UW-L Special Collection Departments have defined complementary collection development responsibilities for the acquisition of local history materials and depend on each other's strengths.

1998 Charles Lee
His contributions include strong support of the oral history program and its interview mission, especially in the documentation of Hmong immigration and assimilation, innovative use of primary materials in the teaching of history, outreach to area schools and organizations, and assistance with the acquisition of collections for the special collections department.

1997 Douglas Connell
As a local historian and writer, Mr. Connell's works have increased our understanding of La Crosse history. He has been a major user of library resources for over 20 years, especially in the compilation of a comprehensive La Crosse newspaper index and in research on architecture and buildings. In 1992 Connell and Edwin Hill co-authored La Crosse in Light and Shadow: A Pictorial Recollection of La Crosse, Wisconsin which was published by Murphy Library. Income from the sales totaling over $5,000 at the time of the award goes to the library's Endowment Fund, thus providing further support for Murphy Library.

1996 Robert W. Bilby
His contributions to the library go back over many years. He has worked with the library and librarians on a variety of tasks: served on the Faculty Library Committee and was its chair, was a CUWL representative, worked with the librarians at the time of reorganization, helped on assessment. His contributions have stretched over a long time.

1995 Kay Cimpl Wagner and Lutheran Health System
An open door policy at Lutheran Hospital Library has greatly benefited UW-L students who over the years have been assisted by library staff and have been able to make use of the hospital library's excellent journal collection.

1994 Stanley R. Rolnick
Active on the Oral History Program Board and worked on a detailed index and guide and served as interviewer; member Faculty Library Committee (1983-1986); utilized library primary and second source materials effectively in teaching; supporter of Library's Endowment Fund.

1993 Rex D. Fuller
Leader in terms of his visionary use of financial resources in allocating CBA resources for the library to purchase, ABI/Inform and the station on which it runs and the station and partial year subscription for CCH.

1992 Sons & Daughters of Pioneer Rivermen
Financial support of the steamboat and river history collection: nearly $80,000 as of fall, 1992, plus additional contributions of money and photos, information from individual members.

1991 John I. Judson
Poet, publisher. Edited Voyages to the Inland Sea, an annual anthology of Midwestern poets, published by Murphy Library, 1971-1980. Helped build our poetry collection.

1990 Howard R. Fredricks
Responsible for 2,500 hours of interviews which have made ours the second largest oral history collection in Wisconsin.

1989 Laura L. Nelson
Collegial work with librarians in creative integration of library resources into class assignments.

1988 George R. Gilkey
Scholar, library user and supporter extraordinaire. Active in research and teaching in area of local & regional history; he was heavily involved in establishing our Area Research Center in 1965. Wrote a history of UW-L.

1987 Ralph R. Dupae
Responsible for collecting steamboat photographs which has resulted in a world class photographic collection.

1986 Emerson G. Wulling
Sponsored student library competition. Donor to the library of some valuable books. Printed the first three volumes of Voyages to the Inland Sea, our annual ed. of poetry. Provided first substantial gift of money which led to the establishment of our Endowment Fund.