Ralph W. Axtell, 1928-2016; Was Emeritus Professor in Biological Sciences
Ralph W. Axtell, PhD, SIUE’s longest-tenured faculty member, died Friday, July 1 at home. He was 88.
A native of Norfolk, Neb., Axtell was a U.S. Army veteran. He was an emeritus professor of biological sciences in SIUE’s College of Arts and Sciences, serving the institution from September 1960 through May 2014.
Axtell was a lifelong supporter of the University. Through his generous donations, an endowment was set up to support research efforts in the Ecology and Organismal Biology Teaching Laboratory. In recognition of his support, the Ralph Axtell Biology Laboratory is housed in the Science Building West.
The Department of Biological Sciences annually recognizes Darwin Day, and in 2016 renamed its associated lecture series, the Ralph W. Axtell Lecture Series, in honor of the respected professor emeritus.
Axtell was an expert in herpetology. Throughout his career, he published approximately 100 illustrations, maps and peer reviewed papers in which eight new species or subspecies were described. In 2006, a Texas and Mexican lizard, Sceloporus poinsettia axtelli was named in his honor by Robert G. Webb.
“Ralph Axtell was one of the “founding fathers” of SIUE,” said Stephen Hansen, PhD and interim chancellor of SIUE. “An outstanding teacher and scholar, Ralph laid the groundwork for SIUE’s future by setting the standard for excellence. Over his long career, he helped build SIUE into a nationally recognized university.”
Visitation will be held from 2-6 p.m. Wednesday, July 6 at Marks Mortuary in Wood River. A private burial will follow at Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery.
Memorials may be made to the SIUE Foundation or the American Diabetes Foundation.
A complete obituary is available in The Telegraph.