Don, Glennys Ziegler to receive Builders Awards

Don and Glennys Tyser Ziegler will receive Builders Awards during the annual Doane College awards banquet. Don Ziegler is a Grand Island high school graduate.

Builder Awards are presented yearly to alumni who have made immeasurable contribution of time and effort to the building of the college and whose leadership has set a living example.

 Doane College will present a total of six alumni awards at the annual awards banquet Saturday, May 17. Reservations can be made through DoaneDons Alumni Office at (402) 826-8258.

Don and Glennys Tyser Ziegler met as fellow members of Doane's class of 1950.

Glennys, a native of Beatrice, earned her degree in math and psychology.

Don, a Grand Island high school graduate, completed a history degree at Doane, followed by his doctorate from the University of Nebraska. 

Don was one of Doane's first Fulbright Scholars. In Munich, Germany, he completed research for his dissertation. Glennys taught at Hickman High until it was time to leave for their year in Munich.

It would be many years before they returned to Doane. Don served four Midwestern liberal arts colleges during his career -- two as professor of European history and two, including Doane, as academic vice president and dean of the college.

He and Glennys returned to Doane in 1975, where he served for 11 years. During that time, he initiated curricular changes leading to major revision of the college's general education requirements. He also proposed and led the creation of Doane's Lincoln campus.

Glennys' work was both visible and behind-the-scenes, helping with registration, hosting faculty candidates, students, speakers and consultants, sponsoring a sorority and serving as proofreader for her husband's writing projects.

The author of published works on European history as well as short stories in NEBRASKA LIFE magazine, Don has written extensively about the history of Doane.

These works include "Historic Doane Families," "Doane College in Lincoln," and "A College on a Hill:  Life at Doane, 1872-1987," followed by a recently expanded edition, "A College on a Hill and Beyond, Life at Doane, 1872-2005." 

Their dedication to Doane did not end with Don's retirement and "Dean Emeritus" title. Together, they served as class agents for the class of 1950 and members of Doane's Alumni Council. They have opened their home to guests of the college and can be found at nearly every Doane reunion, Homecoming and Commencement, as well as fine arts programs, speakers and lectures.

Don received the Trustee Award for Distinguished Service from Doane in 1990. Doane awarded its Exceptional Service Award to Don and Glennys jointly in 1999.

In addition to Doane, their combined list of service organizations and memberships has included leadership in the United Church of Christ First Congregational, Women's Fellowship, Crete Rotary Club, the Wednesday Club and AAUW.

They have five children and several grandchildren and great-grandchildren.