Lars Granberg
Lars Granberg, former President of NW and namesake of the English department’s Granberg Hall, died March 2, 2011, at the age of 91. Granberg was president of the college from 1966 to 1975, and is remembered by faculty and former students as a highly intelligent, highly respected individual.
“The word that comes to mind when remembering him is gentleness,” said NW professor Ron Juffer. Hired by Granberg himself, Juffer has been a part of NW since 1967. Juffer remembered Granberg as someone he “felt very comfortable” to be around. “He was easy to communicate with, and very well-respected by the community,” said Juffer.
Granberg was also highly present and involved on campus. Juffer remembers Granberg coming to the majority of the college’s basketball games and social events.
Rather than keeping NW as a school that produced mainly future teachers, Granberg was instrumental in transforming the school into a liberal arts college, offering more majors for students to choose from. Granberg saw the advantages and oppurtunities students could receive from a well-rounded education.
Granberg also wanted to move beyond the northwest part of Iowa when recruiting students. He sought for more variety and more diversity in the student body.
Juffer also remembered the strong marriage between Lars and his wife, Carol, saying they made a fantastic team. “Carol was warm and caring. She related to the community.” Even though Carol did not have a specific job at the college, Juffer saw the couple as working an almost “team-presidency.”
Another fond memory that Juffer still has of the former president was his unique laugh. “He would fold his arms across his chest and laugh, but nothing, no sound, would come out,” said Juffer, who began to laugh a little himself at the memory.
Rev. John Hubers, now a professor in NW’s religion department, was a student at the college during Granberg’s presidency.
“He was highly respected for raising the profile of Northwestern,” said Hubers. Hubers remembered Granberg as a “strong academic” who strove to and succeeded in raising the academic credentials of the college.
Like many freshmen (and likely upperclassmen as well), Hubers had little idea about what the role of a president of a college was exactly. Without knowing specifically what Granberg did, Hubers saw him as the man who “represented the spirit of the college.”
“He was quite friendly to students, although I do remember that he could never learn any of the students’ names,” said Hubers with a chuckle.
Granberg left NWC in 1975, but his influence has been remembered long after. The college is continually getting a more diverse student body and looking into a wider variety of courses and majors. The English department’s home, named after Lars Granberg, now serves as a lasting reminder of this great president.