Dr. Myron Q. Hale

Dr. Myron Q Hale 1921 ~ 2006 Dr. Myron Q Hale, 84, passed away in his sleep Friday Jan. 13, 2006 at University Place, West Lafayette, Ind. He was born September 17, 1921 in Oakley, Idaho to Otelia Baker and Archie Q Hale. The family later moved to Salt Lake City. His father passed away in 1935 leaving Mrs. Hale with two girls and five boys to raise alone. Myron attended the Lafayette Elementary, Horace Mann Jr. High and West High schools. At West High he was the editor of the Red and Black, the school newspaper, participated on the debate team, a student council representative and played basketball going undefeated and winning the Big Four Championship where he was named honorable mention on the all star team. Entering the University of Utah in 1939 he played Varsity Basketball. while at the "U" he joined the Navy Air Corps in 1942 and was called to active duty in 1942-43 beginning his senior school year. As an ensign he was assigned as co-pilot to Lt. John Hubbard who later became president of the University of Southern California, (USC). He was assigned to the Navy's only four engine land based bomber, the PB4Y2 (privateer). His search and destroy squadron was the first at Iwo Jima. Myron received the Distinguished Flying Cross, Air Medal with Three Stars, an Admiral's Commendation and many other citations for low level attacks in Tokyo Bay. During the war, he sent his monthly pay checks home to support his mother, brothers and sisters. He received his BA degree in 1947 from the University of Utah. Myron was a member of the famous 1947 All-Church Team that brought the All-Church championship back to Utah in the Centennial year. After receiving his Masters degree in 1949 from the University of Utah. He moved to Columbia University where he taught and worked on his PhD. Needing additional money to graduate, he caddied on the golf course as a part time job. He graduated second in his class of 28 students in Political Theory, receiving his Doctors degree from Columbia in 1958. He taught at Columbia and CCNY, while working towards his degree. He taught at Monmouth College and then accepted an Appointment at the University of Texas before joining the Political Science Department at Ohio State in 1959. Active in Civil Rights, he and Alys attended Martin Luther King's March on Washington in 1963. He was also involved in the movement against the Vietnam War. Professor Hale taught at Ohio State for 10 years before being recruited by Purdue University as head of the Political Science Department in 1969. He retired as Professor Emeritus of Political Science in 1992. He has written many books, papers, articles, monograms and reviews that were published in the political science field. A man of great sincerity, fellowship, humor and intellect, Professor Hale was a devoted teacher who inspired and benefited many students and others in the course of his long and famous career. Myron was preceded in death by his wife Alys on May 20, 2004, his parents, brother Nathan and sister Clarine. His surviving family members are one sister Maree and three brothers Ralph, Ray and David. He is survived by his immediate family of three daughters, Kendall Hale, Jenefer Hale and Elizabeth Hale Knox, four grandchildren, Moriah, Teryn, Erica and Alexander. Services will be held in West Lafayette, Indiana. He was the wind beneath our wings.