Artist: John Geise

Date: 1973

Location: Jordan Schnitzer Museum of Art, south lawn

The sculpture was a given to the University in 1974 by the William A. Haseltine family. It honors Karl Onthank, a UO administrator. The inscription reads, "Honoring Karl Onthank whose life on the campus whose life on the campus from 1909 to 1957, bore witness to the love for his fellow man."

About Karl Onthank: Karl William Onthank was born in 1890 in Vineland, New Jersey, and moved to Hood River, Oregon with his family when he was thirteen. Onthank graduated from the University of Oregon in 1913 and married Ruth McLaren in 1915. In 1916 he joined the University of Oregon staff as executive secretary to President Prince Lucian Campbell. From 1924 to 1926 he was one of three members of an administrative team which took over during President Campbell's illness and the search for his successor. In 1930 Onthank was named dean of personnel administration for the university. In l948 he became associate dean of students in charge of job placement, a position he held until his retirement in l957. Onthank died in 1968. (Courtesy, Special Collections)

BIBLIOGRAPHY

"'Family' sculpture honors Onthank." Daily Emerald, 13 Nov. 1974, 8.