Dr. Roben John
Maaske was born in October,
1903 in Bertrand, Nebraska.
Dr. Maaske’s teaching
career began in 1922, when
he founded a one room school
house in Urbana, Nebraska.
Dr. Maaske’s love of
education took him to the
University of Nebraska where
he received his Bachelor of
Arts in Economics in 1927.
After graduating from the
University of Nebraska, Dr.
Maaske traveled west to Oregon
where he was hired as Irrigon
Superintendent of Schools
in 1927. Dr. Maaske was a
supervisor in the Portland
public schools from 1929 to
1931 when he became Deputy
State Superintendent of Public
Instruction for Oregon, a
position he held until 1936.
Maaske completed the requirements
for a Masters in School Administration
from the University of Oregon
in 1936 and a Doctorate from
the University of Minnesota
two years later. Dr. Maaske
returned to Oregon in 1939
to become president of Eastern
Oregon College of Education
(EOCE) in la Grande. He served
at EOCE until his 1950 appointment
as president of the Oregon
College of Education (OCE).
Dr.Maaske’s tenure
at OCE (1950 to 1955) was
a time of change and growth
for the school. Dr. Maaske
finished the construction
of the new library (now known
as APS),
built Wolverton Swimming Pool
in Old
PE, remolded many campus
buildings, started construction
of the first men’s dorm
(now known as Maaske
Hall), and acquired land
for future school expansion.
Dr. Maaske was a dedicated
and tireless worker, and he
expected the same from those
around him. He authored more
than 130 booklets, brochures,
and articles during his lifetime.
Dr. Maaske was a member of
many professional and non-professional
groups, and an active member
in the Presbyterian Church.
Roben John Maaske was found
dead of a heart attack at
his OCE desk on February 19,
1955.
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