Homer Socolofsky
Homer Edward Socolofsky, 83, of Manhattan, died Sept. 6, 2005, at Mercy Regional Health Center, Manhattan.
Born May 20, 1922, at Tampa, he was the son of Abraham and Mary Belle (Reneau) Socolofsky.
He served as an artillery battery commander in the 3rd Marine Division, in the Battle of Iwo Jima in World War II, and in the U.S. Marine Corps Reserves, retiring as a captain in 1960.
On Nov. 23, 1946, he married Helen Wright at Westmoreland.
He was a 1940 graduate of Marion High School and attended Kansas State University, graduating in 1944. He earned a master's degree in history from Kansas State University in 1947, and a Ph.D. in American history from the University of Missouri in 1954.
He was a teacher in the history department at Kansas State University for 45 years, retiring as a professor in 1992.
While on the faculty at KSU, he served as a visiting lecturer and Fulbright fellow at Panjab University in Chandigarh, India, and as a Carnegie intern and visiting assistant professor at Yale University.
During his time at KSU, he was a major professor for 32 master's degree candidates, 10 doctoral degree candidates, and taught more than 10,000 students.
He was a member of Kansas State Historical Society, president in 1975-76, as well as a member of the board of directors and executive committee. He was a member of the Agricultural Historical Society, serving as president in 1968-69.
Socolofsky was the author of numerous papers, articles in professional journals, book reviews, and books, including "The Presidency of Benjamin Harrison," "Kansas Governors," and a two-volume history of the First United Methodist Church in Manhattan.
He lettered in football and track at Kansas State University, and placed fifth in the 1943 NCAA championships (then UCAA) in the javelin.
After his retirement, he competed in seniors' competition in the javelin. He placed second in the Nike World Masters Games in 1998, first in the State Games of America and fourth in the National Senior Games in 1999, and fourth in the USA Masters Championships in 2001.
He was a member of the Manhattan Kiwanis Club since the 1950s, the Wranglers at Kansas State University, Kansas Corral of the Westerners, and First United Methodist Church in Manhattan.
He was preceded in death by his parents, and a sister, Dorothy Graham.
Survivors include his wife, Helen of Manhattan; six children and spouses, Robert and Jean Socolofsky of Denver, Colo., Jennifer and Bill Sims of Lawrence, Thomas Socolofsky and Annamarie DeBella of Warren, Mich., Edward Socolofsky of Roeland Park, Theodore Socolofsky and Claudia Kale of Naperville, Ill., and Floyd Howe and Elizabeth Socolofsky-Howe of Warrensburg, Mo.; sister, Mildred Lindholm of Manhattan; brother, Marion Socolofsky of Baton Rouge, La.; 12 grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren.
Funeral services were held Saturday afternoon at First United Methodist Church, Manhattan, with the Rev. Jim Reed officiating.
Memorial contributions may be sent to the Kansas State Foundation for the Homer E. Socolofsky History Scholarship Fund or First United Methodist Church, Manhattan.
