Former President Haak dies

By Tom Uribes
University Relations

Dr. Harold H. Haak, who served as the president of Fresno State from 1980-1991, died Dec. 26 in Fresno.

President Welty, who succeeded Dr. Haak, said the former president "was an outstanding scholar who served Fresno State extremely well."  Welty said Dr. Haak was "responsible for the significant growth of the entire university experience."

Dr. Haak served on various committees, both academic and public service, and was voted one of Fresno's most influential people in 1990.

Dr. Haak was born on June 1, 1935, in Madison, Wisc. He received his bachelor's and master's degrees at the University of Wisconsin in political science and a Ph.D. from Princeton University.

He was hired as an assistant professor at San Diego State University where he became an associate professor of political science, teaching from 1962 to 1969. He also served as Dean of Public Administration and Urban Studies at San Diego. He left that position in 1971 to become the Vice President for Academic Affairs at Fresno State.

Two years later Dr. Haak became the vice president (in 1974 the position was designated as chancellor) of the newly named University of Colorado at Denver (UCD). He helped to shape and define the university and its role in the innovative Auraria Higher Education Center (a shared campus for three separate institutions). His efforts were recognized in 1980 when he was awarded the University of Colorado Medal. Dr. Haak served 6 ½ years in Colorado until he returned to Fresno as president.

After retiring from Fresno State, Dr. Haak served from 1992 to 1993   as Senior Vice Chancellor of Academic Affairs for the California State University system on an interim basis.

In 1993 he returned to Fresno to teach political science at Fresno State. In 2000, he became interim president of Fresno Pacific University for two years.

At memorial services held Jan. 3 at St. Anthony Padua Catholic Church in Fresno , a standing-room-only attendance heard several speakers eulogize Fresno State 's last surviving president emeritus.

"Achievement, generosity and love of family, these were the hallmarks of Harold Haak's character," said Dr. Welty. "They are also the monuments he left behind and for which all of us can be grateful."

He noted that under Dr. Haak's 11-year presidential tenure, enrollment grew by 29 percent and minority enrollment grew by 79 percent. The number of ethnic minority faculty grew by 87 percent and women faculty increased by 61 percent. Similar dramatic increases occurred in the executive and managerial ranks, Welty said.

During Dr. Haak's time, new facilities valued at $124 million opened, and an additional $132 million in facilities were planned, the university's first joint doctorate was planned and the athletic program grew dramatically.

"But something far more important occurred at Fresno State during these 11 years," Welty said.

"Harold Haak used his abilities as a leader and scholar combined with his strongly held values, his sense of humor, his voice and his deep caring for people to unite a university community which had been torn by strife over many years. This unification created a sense of possibilities which has allowed Fresno State to flourish today and look to a very bright future."

Others who delivered a eulogy included former Fresno State officials: former provost Dr. Judith Kuipers, now president of Fielding Institute; former Social Science Dean Dr. Peter Klassen, now member of the Fresno Pacific board of trustees; former administrators Dr. Harold Best and Dr. Lynn Hemink; and Political Science professor Dr. David Provost.

Dr. Merrill Ewert, current president of Fresno Pacific University , and the Rev. Robert Mattheis, bishop emeritus of the ELCA Sierra Pacific Synod also spoke.

Music was performed by the Fresno State Clarinet Ensemble and the Fresno Pacific Chamber singers.

President Welty will call for a moment of silence at the Fresno State Faculty/Staff Assembly on Jan. 21.

Additional stories with background on President Haak:

Former Fresno State President Harold Haak Honored

Business Leaders Honor Former FPU President

Madden Library: Haak Presidential Papers