By Jack Jeffery
Harry B. Crewson, the 17th president of Ohio University, passed away last week in his hometown of Sebring, Ohio. Plans are pending for a memorial service on campus.
Crewson served as president of Ohio University from 1974 to 1975. He followed Claude R. Sowle as president and served until Charles J. Ping was installed. During his term, Crewson began a freshman retention program to help orient new students to the campus and community. Many of the Freshman Experience courses, outgrowths of Crewson's retention efforts, are still offered through University College.
He also brought the College of Osteopathic Medicine, the first such school in the state, to Ohio University in 1975. Crewson began teaching at the University in 1949 and spent 25 years as a professor of economics prior to his selection as president. In 1955, he founded and became first president of the Ohio University Employees Credit Union. He also served 10 years as president of the Athens City Council.
After his tenure as president, Crewson returned to teaching as a trustee professor of economics. He fully retired from teaching in 1983 and was awarded the Phillips Medal of Public Service by the Ohio University College of Osteopathic Medicine that same year.
On campus, Crewson House, the location of the Office of the Ombudsman, is named in his honor. Crewson, born in 1913, received his bachelor's degree in political science and education from the College of Wooster in 1935. He spent time instructing at the American University in Cairo, Egypt, before becoming a noncommissioned officer in the U.S. Army from 1943 to 1945. After his military service, he enrolled at The Ohio State University to earn his master's degree in 1948 and his doctoral degree in 1953, both in economics.
In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to the Harry B. Crewson Freshman Scholarship Fund through the Ohio University Foundation.
Jack Jeffery is a media specialist with University Communications and Marketing.
