USU president key in expansion
In 1888, the Agricultural College of Utah – now USU– was established. Jeremiah W. Sanborn was the college’s first president. Since that time, 14 others have had the distinction of being called president of the university. From 1979 to 1992, Stanford O. Cazier filled the position at USU.
Cazier started his tenure at USU in 1960 as a history professor. In 1966, he received the teacher of the year award.
“I remember when he was history professor here back in the ’60s,” said Larry Cannon, math professor. “He was a great Civil War professor. Some of the students actually idolized him.”
Cannon has worked at USU for 50 years. He remembers working with Cazier before he served as president.
“We went to graduate school together at the University of Wisconsin,” Cannon said. “Since then, we always had a great relationship.”
Cazier then became an assistant to President Glen L. Taggart, whom Cazier took over for when he retired in 1979. Prior to this, Cazier took a leave a absence from USU to become an American Council of Education Fellow at New York University.
After serving as a history professor, Cazier became president of Chico State College in July 1971, replacing Lew D. Oliver. Cazier was responsible for help bringing Chico State to University status in June 1972, where it was renamed California State University, Chico. Despite several protests during his presidency there, Cazier was admired by many as being an effective leader and community supporter.
Cazier left Chico in 1979 to become president of USU.
“I remember meeting Cazier at a luncheon when I first started here in 1988,” said Richard Cutler, head of the mathematics and statistics department. “He was a very welcoming person and was very gracious.”
While at USU, he helped with expanding the campus to what it is today. Campus population grew while he was in office. He also helped oversee the university’s centennial celebration in 1988.
Cazier was also a big traveler, going to other universities to help raise money for USU.
“He was very aware of the university as a whole,” Cannon said. “He was someone who gave very freely of himself.”
While president at USU, Cazier became the first director of the Honors College. He also worked very closely with Milton Merrill on various programs. Cazier also helped with the creation of the Mormon History Association.
“He was continuously working to help improve the university,” Cannon said. “Cazier was always standing up for his faculty members. He was also somebody who encouraged the building of programs for students.”
During his undergraduate career at the University of Utah, he met his future wife Shirley. He married on July 11, 1952. The two were married for 47 years and had 3 sons. Shirley suffered from parkinson’s disease throughout the ’90s and died in 1999.
“She was one of the greatest first ladies that I have ever met during my years at USU,” Cannon said. “She was a very gracious person and was someone who tempered enthusiasms.”
After Cazier retired from the president in 1992, he went back to being a full-time history professor at USU until 1997, where he continued to teach occasional classes as a professor emeritus.
After the death of his wife, sister and one of his sons, he started doing numerous volunteer jobs. Up until his death, he volunteered for Meals on Wheels, a programs that delivers meals to low income families. He also volunteered at nursing homes and taught english as a second language to students.
In 2005, Cazier was in attendance of the grand opening of the Merrill-Cazier Library, a dedication to his time as president. Before the completion of the new library, the Cazier Library and Technology Center was dedicated in his name in 1998.
“Ultimately, he is going to be somebody that is remembered as giving back to the university,” Cannon said. “He was a great president and a great friend.”
-connor.comeau@aggiemail.usu.edu