Dr. Neil D. Humphrey

1928 - 2018

Dr. Neil D. Humphrey

Reno - Dr. Neil D. Humphrey, the first Chancellor of the Nevada System of Higher Education, died in Reno on April 30, 2018. He was 89.

Born in Idaho Falls, Idaho in 1928, he was the son of Clair and Freda Hatfield Humphrey and the younger brother of Harold and Colleen. He acquired his higher education at Idaho State University (where he was student body president) and at the University of Denver (where he received his masters in government management as a Carnegie Fellow). He received his doctorate at Brigham Young University (in the School of Education).

Neil married Mary Pat (Smith) Humphrey of Blackfoot, Idaho, in 1950. They had two children, Ann Marie and Therese, who were born and raised in Reno.

Following jobs in public administration in Colorado, Humphrey came to Nevada in 1955 to become director of the Nevada Taxpayers Association. He was soon well known in Reno and Carson City, becoming well respected in state and local governments for his analytical skills.

After a few years, Governor Grant Sawyer appointed him state budget director. His services attracted the attention of the Board of Regents. He was appointed vice president for finance at the University of Nevada, then became acting president and finally Chancellor of the University of Nevada System from 1967 to 1977.

His calm, quiet temperament and administrative skills contributed to the successful launching of the Nevada System of Higher Education which grew to include both UNR and UNLV, the Community Colleges, the Desert Research Institute, as well as the development of Nevada's first School of Medicine.

Serving as Nevada's first Chancellor, Humphrey had primary responsibility for designing the roles and relationships between the institutions and state government. After almost a decade in this position, Dr. Humphrey accepted an appointment as President of the University of Alaska. His final career move was to Youngstown State University in Ohio in 1978, where he served as vice president of finance and then as president for twelve years.

His public service extended far beyond higher education. He served on boards of First Federal Savings and Loan Association of Youngstown, the Youngstown Area Chamber of Commerce, Commercial Intertech Corp. (an international manufacturing firm), St. Elizabeth Hospital and the Salvation Army. Neil was also an active member of Rotary Club International in Reno and Youngstown.

After his retirement in 1992, he moved back to Reno. Humphrey was awarded honorary doctorate degrees by the University of Akron and the University of Nevada, Reno.

He is survived by his wife of 9 years, Bonnie (Smotony) Humphrey, his daughter Ann Marie and her husband, Kevin Melcher of Reno (who lived for 36 years in Elko, NV), daughter Therese and her husband, David Hymer of San Diego, CA and their children Stephen (Tacoma, WA) and Jillian (San Diego), and two nieces and two nephews. His first wife, Mary Pat (Smith) Humphrey, died in March 2008, after 57 years of marriage.

A memorial mass will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Tuesday, May 29, 2018 at Our Lady of the Snows Catholic Church, 1138 Wright Street, Reno, Nevada. A reception will immediately follow the service at UNR in Morrill Hall.

In lieu of flowers, the family would appreciate contributions to scholarship funds at: University of Nevada, Reno Foundation - Dean's Future Scholar Program or a fund of your choice - 1664 N. Virginia Street, Reno, NV 89557-0162; Youngstown State University Foundation - Dr. Neil D. Humphrey Scholarship Endowment - 655 Wick Ave. Youngstown, OH 44502; or a college or university of your choice.