Lee Mulling passes at age 90

Dr. Leon Charles Mulling

Dr. Leon Charles Mulling, age 90, died on Wednesday, March 2nd, at Linda Vista Nursing and Rehab Center. Dr. Mulling was born on March 15, 1914 in Denver, Colorado. His parents were Leon and Emma Mulling, and two older brothers were Harry and Earl Mulling. All have since died. Harry Mulling's daughter, Mrs. Barbara Ann Hassey, resides in Golden, Colorado.

After obtaining his bachelor's degree in English and Speech in 1936 from Colorado State College in Greeley, Lee taught those subjects, and directed plays for four years at Eaton (Colorado) High School-- while completing work on a master's degree in his field in 1940 -- also at Greeley.

In 1941, Lee was employed by the University of Oregon and the Eugene Public Schools to supervise student teachers of English, continuing with that job until he entered the navy in March of 1943. Lee was trained as a Navy Service Classification Specialist, and interviewed and supervised work in that field for three years in Southern California, until discharged from the navy in April of 1946.

Lee returned to his old job in Eugene, Oregon, only to be recruited by Elmo Stevenson to head up the English Department at Southern Oregon College of Education. He taught English, speech, drama and journalism, and acted as advisor to the College Newspaper. Over the years his teaching became more focused on speech courses; he sponsored yearly high school speech tournaments that included debate. Alumni fondly recall the "Faculty Follies" that Lee wrote and directed to raise money for the SOCE library.

In addition to teaching courses in various aspects of speaking. Lee became interested in the physical, psychological and learning problems associated with speech, and worked with various specialists in diagnostic clinics throughout Southern Oregon, sponsored by the University of Oregon Medical School. He established a Speech Clinic on campus that provided services (and internships) for college students and for members of the public. This became the research area of his Ph.D. studies with the Stanford University Medical School and Communication Department, which he completed in 1960.

Starting in the 50's, and extending over the next 40 years, Lee made dozens of trips overseas. Most were to Europe, where he led tours for OSF patrons, but he used his two assignments in Guam (teaching at the university and setting up speech diagnostic clinics) to make round-the-world trips to much of the Far East. He used summers and sabbaticals to teach at Stanford, University of California, University of Oregon, and University of Colorado, and do research at the British Museum Library.

Much of Lee's travel focused on theater and music, and when the opportunity came at his home university, he played a major role in establishing strong Communication and Theater departments. Lee had helped Angus Bowmer establish the Oregon Shakespeare Festival Association, and served as Secretary to its Board of Directors in its early years. At various times he served on the boards of Jackson County Concerts Association, and of the Rogue Valley Symphony. He endowed musician chairs for the latter, and narrated "Peter and the Wolf" with the symphony, as well as doing narrations with the Southern Oregon Concert Band.

Lee has been a major benefactor for the School of Arts and Letters at SOU: leading fund drives to purchase music equipment and development of the Visual Arts Complex. He funds 7 scholarships for the School of Arts and Letters, and was a strong advocate for maintaining a piano instruction capability in the Music Department. He's endowed a scholarship at Northern Colorado University, his old Alma Mater. Lee chaired the Faculty Senate for a period of time.

On retiring in 1979, the Alumni Association gave Lee their Outstanding Service Award. He assumed the presidency of the Emeritus Faculty, and was president of the SOU Friends of the Library. In 1990, SOU awarded Lee "The President's Medal" for his long-term services to the institution. In 2002, he received "The Dean's Award" from the School of Arts and Letters for his support of those departments.

Leon Charles Mulling, Ph.D. devoted his life to education in the Arts. He has requested that there be no funeral, but a memorial service will be announced in the near future. He asked that "Flowers should be dispensed with, since they are for the living." However friends wishing to contribute to Lee's memory may send checks to the SOU Foundation, 1250 Siskiyou Blvd., noting in the memo space "for Mulling Scholarships"