Two at a Time

When Duane Acker assumed the presidency of Kansas State University on July 1, 1975, he inherited both the management team of his 25-year predecessor and their operating traditions. Though universities were past the student unrest days of the Viet Nam era, the average tenure of university presidents was only three and a half years. Acker told his friends his goal was to "survive for six years and stay no more than ten." Acker shares anecdotally and with some humor a sample of his encounters, several involving pairs. There were the two horse blankets that could not be found for President Reagan's visit, red-in-the face "debating" by two basketball coaches, the two staff tenure systems he found, his two trips to China and the two franchises he wanted, "lines in the sand" with two local bankers, whether two regents had made their way to Heaven, and strategies that yielded two new building projects at one time, twice. Two at a Time provides a telling glimpse into the life of a state university president and the challenges faced, as well as satisfactions that the presidency yielded for him and his wife. Acker also shares later experiences, and shows that life doesn't end after a university presidency.

DUANE ACKER was K-State president from 1975 to 1986. He had been a K-State associate dean, a South Dakota State dean and a Nebraska vice chancellor. After the presidency he headed international programs in federal agencies and was assistant secretary at USDA. The Ackers now live on their Iowa farm.