Teachers Who Never Leave UsFall 2025

When I ask our alumni which Oregon State faculty and staff members left the greatest impression on them, I’m often rewarded with tales of the Ron Lovells of our world.

Each issue of this magazine includes a list of community members we’ve recently lost. We review these entries with care, because behind every name is a story and a lasting connection to Oregon State. Nowhere do we feel the limitations of print space more acutely.

This Stater’s list includes Ronald P. “Ron” Lovell. He died in March at age 87. The basics of his life are this: He was a journalism professor for 25 years and, in retirement, a prolific author of mystery novels and academic textbooks. He was a true gentleman — brilliant, witty and generous.

At Ron’s memorial service in Lincoln City, former students shared memories of his powerful mentorship. In his eulogy, longtime Stater editor Kevin Miller, ’78, recalled how the professor once cornered him in a parking lot to urge him not to waste his storytelling ability. Kevin reflected: “I still don’t understand how this little man fired in me a desire to become useful. But I do know he cared about me, and I know that whatever is good about my life is partly and irrevocably due to him.”

Alumni rose one after another to share anecdotes of a scholarly man who pointed out their talent and then insistently helped them refine their skills. Retirement didn’t slow him in this vocation. He reached out to his extensive professional network to help former students land jobs, joined them on mutual book-signing tours and stepped in with publishers to advocate on their behalf.

Ron returned to Oregon State in his final decade — this time as a volunteer. Kevin and I asked him to help launch the Oregon Stater Advisory Council to provide a sounding board for ideas. Ron organized critiques with our standout council members. He was a professor again — tireless and fully engaged.

After Kevin’s retirement, Ron helped us select and onboard our latest in a lengthy line of exceptional editors, Scholle McFarland. She’ll miss the email messages from Ron (almost always with the subject in all caps) — praising the latest issue as “OUR FINEST YET,” before providing constructive feedback. We loved Ron. We’ll miss him. He embodied the too-often-overlooked impact of Oregon State faculty, staff and coaches — mentors who see in us what we can’t seem to recognize on our own. Their kind words and critical interventions alter our course, and their caring guidance lasts a lifetime.