Frederick W. Hebbard

Hebbard Dr. Frederick W. Hebbard OD, PHD. Frederick W. Hebbard, Dean Emeritus of the Ohio State University College of Optometry died August 14, 2016, at his home, 8 days after his 93rd birthday. Born in Eukeka, Utah on August 6, 1923, to Frederick A. and Betty L. Hebbard who, one month after his birth, moved to Vallejo, California, near San Fancisco. He graduated from Vallejo Senior High School in January of 1941. His family couldn't afford college tuition, so he took a Civil Service examination for the apprentice program at the Mare Island Naval Shipyard in Vallejo. He scored exceptionally high and was accepted into the pattern shop making wood patterns for use in the foundry to create ship parts. It was the highest paid trade on Mare Island with an apprentice wage of 30 cents per hour. He remembered one day at work, watching a large wooden crate being loaded onto the bow of the USS Indianapolis before it departed. That cargo was the 5 ton bomb that was dropped on Hiroshima on his 22nd birthday, August 6, 1945. With tuition money saved, he applied to UC Berkeley and was admitted in 1946. He went on to earn his BS in 1949 and his MS in 1951. He earned his PhD in Physiological Optics in 1957. After meeting Dr. Glenn A. Fry, Director of the Ohio State Scool of Optometry at an Academy meeting in Chicago, he was offered a position at OSU. Once there, he ambitiously taught, did clinical work and research. He became Associate Director in 1962 and Director in 1966. Through his hard work and dedication, he played a key role in bringing the Doctor of Optometry (OD) degree to Ohio State. The School of Optometry became the College of Optometry in January, 1968 and he became the first Dean. He so very much loved his time there and served on many Boards and Committees, always putting his entire heart and soul into the betterment and enrichment of the program. He thoroughly enjoyed his lasting friendship with Woody Hayes. They very often the met at the Faculty Club for lunch or dinner and enjoyed wonderful discussions, not about football, but a topic for which they shared a mutual facination - history. In his retirement, he enjoyed world travel, became a dedicated student of the stock market and later, quite an authority on it. He loved sharing stories about the many facinating people he met over the years, some of which included US Senators, Congressmen, Admiral Chester Nimitz, Chief Justice Earl Warren and reclusive movie star Greta Garbo to name a few. He had a voracious appetite for reading and had an extremely curious mind up to the final days of his life. He also kept his finger tightly on the pulse of the political world. He was a lifelong Republican and socially liberal. He never missed voting in one single election, no matter how insignificant the issue. Unfortunately, and sadly, he was so disgusted with the present nominee of his party, that he was going to obstain from exercising his right to vote for the first time in 75 years. He was a very kind and gentle man. With all of his accomplishments and success, he always remained exceedingly humble. He treated everyone, from University Presidents to waiters, with the same warmth and respect. He was always generous with compliments, encouraged and applauded others success and was a very attentive listener. He leaves behind an enduring legacy that will be remembered well into the future. He will be enormously missed by those who loved him. He is survived by his sister, Betty Lou Davidson of Los Angeles; nephews, Richard (Mary) Davidson, Yorba Linda, CA, Randy Davidson, Los Angeles; great nephews, Sean (Michelle), and Scott Davidson; great niece, Kelly Davidson; lifelong friend, Christine Trujillo; friend and caretaker, Patrick; and his dog, Tucker. There will be no public funeral. Plans for a celebration of his life, which will be held at the Ohio State University Faculty Club, are pending and will be announced. In 1976, in memory of his parents, he established a memorial fund in support of the College of Optometry for education and research. In lieu of flowers, you make make a donation to the Frederick A. and Betty L. Hebbard Memorial Fund by visiting https://www.giveto.osu.edu/makeagift/?fund=603051 or by calling 614-292-2100.