Former Chancellor Frederick Obear receives top honor
Jouy Thomas
Issue date: 2/5/09 Section: News
Dr. Frederick Obear, former Chancellor of UTC, has received one of education's top honors, The Michigan State University's College of Education's prestigious Crystal Apple Award.
According to Michigan State University College of Education, "The Crystal Apple Award is a way to honor an educator as being representative of excellence and commitment."
Obear received his award during The Crystal Apple Awards Dinner held at the Kellog Center in Michigan, following a nomination from MaryLee Davis of Michigan State University's College of Education.
"I was on campus in Fletcher when my son James Obear called with the news" Dr. Obear said.
"My son, who works at Michigan State University, said he wanted to be the first one to let me know."
"I didn't know I was nominated, I had heard of the award but had no idea I was in the running to receive it, I was thrilled to find out, so it was a family celebration."
Obear began his career in education as a professor. " I always wanted to be a English teacher" Dr. Obear said, "but I ended up in Chemistry." Dr. Obear credits "mentors and previous teachers in high school and college, they are responsible for lighting the spark in me" as influences to become an educator.
Although Obear served as Chancellor at UTC for 17 years, his work as a mentor and educator is what snagged him the top-ranking honor.
Obear came to UTC in July of 1981, " The University was looking for a Chancellor and a UTC faculty member placed my name in the nomination search," Obear said.
"I was provost at Oakland University in Michigan and had never really thought about moving up in campus administration," he said.
Obear continues to show a commitment to education at UTC.
After retiring in 1997, Obear came back to the university to serve as interim chancellor in 2004.
Although Obear is no longer interim chancellor for the university, he is a continued influential part of UTC campus.
On September 16, 2008, UTC honored Obear by renaming the New Village Apartments, one of the university's housing complexes, to Johnson- Obear apartments. The renaming not only honors Dr. Obear, but his entire family's commitment to education as well.
Obear said, "the best part of being an educator is influencing future generations in a very positive way."
Obear said, " it's not giving back, its called paying forward... it's not giving back because we are investing in someone else's future therefore we are paying forward in future generations."
Dr. Obear said he thanks "parents, spouses, children, and mentors of the UT system, Ed Boling and Joe Johnson, along with some mentors from Texas."
According to Michigan State University College of Education, "The Crystal Apple Award is a way to honor an educator as being representative of excellence and commitment."
Obear received his award during The Crystal Apple Awards Dinner held at the Kellog Center in Michigan, following a nomination from MaryLee Davis of Michigan State University's College of Education.
"I was on campus in Fletcher when my son James Obear called with the news" Dr. Obear said.
"My son, who works at Michigan State University, said he wanted to be the first one to let me know."
"I didn't know I was nominated, I had heard of the award but had no idea I was in the running to receive it, I was thrilled to find out, so it was a family celebration."
Obear began his career in education as a professor. " I always wanted to be a English teacher" Dr. Obear said, "but I ended up in Chemistry." Dr. Obear credits "mentors and previous teachers in high school and college, they are responsible for lighting the spark in me" as influences to become an educator.
Although Obear served as Chancellor at UTC for 17 years, his work as a mentor and educator is what snagged him the top-ranking honor.
Obear came to UTC in July of 1981, " The University was looking for a Chancellor and a UTC faculty member placed my name in the nomination search," Obear said.
"I was provost at Oakland University in Michigan and had never really thought about moving up in campus administration," he said.
Obear continues to show a commitment to education at UTC.
After retiring in 1997, Obear came back to the university to serve as interim chancellor in 2004.
Although Obear is no longer interim chancellor for the university, he is a continued influential part of UTC campus.
On September 16, 2008, UTC honored Obear by renaming the New Village Apartments, one of the university's housing complexes, to Johnson- Obear apartments. The renaming not only honors Dr. Obear, but his entire family's commitment to education as well.
Obear said, "the best part of being an educator is influencing future generations in a very positive way."
Obear said, " it's not giving back, its called paying forward... it's not giving back because we are investing in someone else's future therefore we are paying forward in future generations."
Dr. Obear said he thanks "parents, spouses, children, and mentors of the UT system, Ed Boling and Joe Johnson, along with some mentors from Texas."
