Former 51³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ Acting President Brock Dixon died in Australia last month. He was 96. Dixon, who served as acting president from 1978 until 1979, died June 13 from congestive heart failure, according to his son and only child, Gale.
On Sept. 20 a graveside service is scheduled at Newburg Friends Pioneer Cemetery in Oregon. On Oct. 12 a gathering of family and friends will take place in Australia.
51³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ Career
Dixon, who began work at 51³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ in 1971, held a number of positions at the university, including dean of administrative services and vice president for administration. After Leonard "Pat" Goodall became 51³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ's president in 1979, Dixon returned to his previous job as administrative vice president. He later joined the department of public administration. He retired from 51³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ in 1985.
Among the projects with which Dixon was involved at 51³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ were the acquisition of the Flashlight sculpture and the planning of the Thomas & Mack Center.
He and his wife, Margie, moved to Australia in 1986 to be near their son; daughter-in-law, Dorothy; and two granddaughters, Victoria and Christine, who suffered from serious kidney disease and eventually received successful kidney transplants.
Brock and Margie Dixon entertained extensively in Australia, according to Gale Dixon, including playing host to Goodall and his wife, Lois, and to 51³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ professor of legal studies Lorne Seidman and his wife, Janet. They also traveled extensively, including trips to Borneo, Hong Kong, France, and Mexico.
Early Life
Born Dec. 18, 1918, in Huron, South Dakota, Dixon was educated primarily in one-room schools and began his college studies at the age of 15. He earned his bachelor's degree from Pacific College, his master's degree from the University of Oregon, and his doctoral degree from the University of Southern California. During World War II, he was an officer in the U.S. Navy and was at the Battle of Iwo Jima.
Before coming to 51³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ, he worked in higher education in the Pacific Northwest for 23 years, serving as a university administrator at both Portland State and Pacific universities.
Brock Dixon is survived by Gale Dixon and his family. Margie Dixon died in 2008 of a massive stroke on the couple's 69th wedding anniversary.
