Thackrey, Russell I.

Russell I. Thackrey was a journalist, university professor, and educational administrator. Thackrey earned his B.S. in journalism from Kansas State in 1927 and his M.S. in 1932. Simultaneously, Thackrey worked as an instructor at K-State from 1928 to 1935, while he also revived and edited Kansas Magazine from 1933 to 1935. After working as a reporter for the Associated Press for one year from 1935 to 1936, Thackrey taught at the University of Minnesota from 1937 to 1940, but he returned to K-State as Head of the Journalism Department from 1940 to 1944. This was followed by his work as Dean of Administration at K-State from 1944 to 1947. Thackrey’s work in education continued as he served as Director of the National Association of State Universities and Land Grant Colleges from 1947 to 1970. He also served on the John F. Kennedy Task Force on Education in 1960, and in 1969, he was awarded the Presidential award of American College Public Relations Association. After leaving education, Thackrey spent his time writing, and in 1971, he published “The Future of the State University” through the Illinois Press. Thackrey died in Manhattan, Kansas on March 11, 1990.

Written in January 2021 by Jarrod Kuckelman.

Creator Source: Library of Congress Name Authority File