Author: Dale Devries
Robert E. McPherson
Class of 1957: Opera singing and boat repair At a very early age, Robert Edward McPherson developed two loves: sailing and singing. He was born Jan. 29, 1935, in Oshkosh, Wisconsin. From the age of 15, he sailed his beloved Snipe in area lakes, and crewed for other boat owners in regattas. He was a […]
Posted by Dale Devries in Not News.
Justin Niebank
Class of 1978: Grammy-winning mix engineer Three-time Grammy Award winner Justin Wrigley Niebank is one of the top mixers, engineers and producers in country music. His honors include two Country Music Awards, including a 2012 CMA as Engineer of the Year and a 2016 CMA as mix engineer for Thomas Rhett’s “Die a Happy Man,” […]
Posted by Dale Devries in Not News.
David Mirisch
Class of 1959: The Man behind the Golden Stars After decades as a Hollywood press agent, David Mirisch published his autobiography “The Man with the Gold Rolox — PR to the Stars” in 2017. He was born July 24, 1935, in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, and was close to the entertainment business since birth. His father, Irving […]
Posted by Dale Devries in Not News.
Frances Lee McCain
Class of 1966: Everybody’s movie mom With more than 80 film credits over a five-decade career, Frances Lee McCain has sustained a prolific and versatile performing career on stage, television and film. She was born in July 1944 in York, Pennsylvania. At Ripon, she majored in philosophy, was a member of Alpha Chi Omega/Alpha Gamma […]
Posted by Dale Devries in Not News.
Spencer Tracy
Class of 1924: Star of Hollywood’s Golden Age One of the mostly widely respected movie actors of all time first walked the boards at Ripon College. Spencer Bonaventure Tracy was a theatrical and Academy Award-winning film actor. He appeared in 75 feature films and numerous short films from 1930 to 1967 and received two Academy […]
Posted by Dale Devries in Not News.
James Blair Thompson
Class of 1973: Artist From a 33-year career as a professor at Willamette University in Salem, Oregon, to a prolific and varied exhibition schedule, James Blair Thompson established a formidable artistic reputation as one of the most innovative and intriguing artists and educators from the Pacific Northwest. He was born in July 1951 in Chicago, […]
Posted by Dale Devries in Not News.
John Stephenson
Class of 1945: Voice of Mr. Slate John Winfield Stephenson, who lent his distinctive voice to dozens of animated and on-screen characters over a 60-year acting career, was best-known as the voice of Mr. Slate, Fred Flintstone’s boss at the rock quarry, on the classic 1960s television program “The Flintstones.” He also voiced the ladies’ […]
Posted by Dale Devries in Not News.
Lester O. Schwartz
Faculty Artist The Department of Art at Ripon College was founded by Lester O. Schwartz, artist-in-residence from 1944 until his retirement in 1977. He was allowed to renovate a fraternity house into a studio and was given free rein to paint, as long as he also taught for four hours each day. A 1937 graduate […]
Posted by Dale Devries in Not News.
Charlie Scheips
Class of 1981: Artist, writer, curator, cultural historian Throughout his career, Charlie Scheips has explored the ways art and fashion reflect — and preserve — the culture of their time. He has spent decades examining history through its visual artifacts, believing that while fortunes rise and fall, what endures are the objects that bear witness […]
Posted by Dale Devries in Not News.
Jan Jorden
Class of 1964: From “M*A*S*H*” to therapy From a recurring role on the television series “M*A*S*H*” to appearances on numerous television series and movies, to nurturing the empowerment of women and children who have endured domestic violence, Jan Jorden, Class of 1964, parlayed interests grounded at Ripon College into a varied and fulfilling career. She […]
Posted by Dale Devries in Not News.
Al Jarreau
Class of 1962: Jazz legend, seven-time Grammy winner Wisconsin-born singer and songwriter Alwin “Al” Jarreau is the only person in history to win Grammy Awards in three different categories: jazz, pop and R&B. He was born March 12, 1940, in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. As the son of a minister, Jarreau began singing in the church choir […]
Posted by Dale Devries in Not News.
Arnold Glasow
Class of 1927: A ‘happychrondriac’ Humorist and businessman Arnold H. Glasow kept the nation laughing with his insightful and quirky views of the world. His knack for creating snappy observations began in high school inn Fond du Lac, Wisconsin, and was honed at Ripon College. He was born July 2, 1905, in Fond du Lac, […]
Posted by Dale Devries in Not News.
Harrison Ford
Class of 1964: Film superstar A long time ago, in a galaxy far, far away … Harrison Ford discovered a love of acting on the Ripon College campus. He was born July 13, 1942, in Chicago, Illinois. At Ripon, he majored in philosophy and participated in Sigma Nu/Theta Sigma Tau. He gave memorable theatre performances […]
Posted by Dale Devries in Not News.
Harold Engel
Class of 1925: Broadcasting pioneer Expanding educational and political discourse opportunities across the state of Wisconsin was a mission embraced by Harold Engel, Class of 1925, a broadcasting pioneer during the formative years of radio and television. He promoted the concept of using radio for social good. Born in Sun Prairie, Wisconsin, June 25, 1903, […]
Posted by Dale Devries in Not News.
Tom Bellfort
Class of 1967: Academy Award-winning sound editor A major element in an emotional response to a film or documentary is the sound accompanying the images. Tom Bellfort has brought his expertise in sound to more than 80 motion pictures, numerous television series and dozens of video games. He was born Thomas Allen Bellfort Feb. 1, […]
Posted by Dale Devries in Not News.
Rally Days 2026 Launches with an Extraordinary Day 1 at Ripon College
Ripon, WI — Rally Days 2026 is off to a strong and inspiring start as the Ripon College community came together to exceed the Day 1 goal of $175,000, raising just over $208,000. This momentum helped propel the Ripon Fund to $1.6 million in total support to date. More than 400 gifts were made, with […]
Posted by Dale Devries in 175, Administration, Alumni, Homepage Featured.
Anne Negri Lewinthal
Class of 2003: Educator and playwright Anne Negri Lewinthal enhanced her love of theatre at Ripon, and now she shares that love with children through teaching and writing plays specifically for children. She was born Dec. 9, 1980, in Kenosha, Wisconsin. She came to Ripon College because of the opportunity to major in theatre and […]
Posted by Dale Devries in Not News.
Merline Thoma Lovelace
Class of 1968: Air Force colonel, best-selling novelist After a 23-year career commanding U.S. Forces around the world, USAF Col. Merline Thoma Lovelace launched a second career as a writer, basing many of her tales on her own experiences in uniform. She has published more than 100 novels with 12 million copies in print in […]
Posted by Dale Devries in Not News.
Curtis MacDougall
Class of 1923: Freedom of the Press Distinguished journalist and fiercely passionate First Amendment advocate Curtis MacDougall was one of the nation’s most distinguished teachers of journalism, primarily at the Medill School of Journalism at Northwestern University. He was born Feb. 11, 1903, in Fond du Lac, Wisconsin. At age 15, he was offered a […]
Posted by Dale Devries in Not News.
Allan A. Michie
Class of 1936: War correspondent Allan Andrew Michie was a foreign correspondent, magazine editor, educational publisher and author of numerous best-selling wartime books. He was born July 4, 1915, in the village of Bankhead, a suburb of Aberdeen, Scotland, and came to Menasha, Wisconsin, with his family at the age of 10. At Ripon, he […]
Posted by Dale Devries in Not News.
Mary Elvira Weeks
Class of 1913: ‘Discovery of the Elements’ The classic chemistry book “Discovery of the Elements” (1933), by Mary Elvira Weeks, went on to be published in seven editions and multiple languages over the course of the next 35 years. It has been praised as the “first connected narrative of how scientists unraveled the mysteries of […]
Posted by Dale Devries in Not News.