Greenville University Giants: Honoring a Legacy of Service
Published: June 10, 2025
Author: Liz Dowell
Greenville University has long been a place where students are educated and transformed. Rooted in a Christ-centered mission, the University seeks to empower lives of character and service.
This mission has been profoundly modeled by its faculty. We reflect on several of those we've lost in recent months—educators who helped shape generations through wisdom, mentorship, and unwavering commitment to Christian higher education.
Professor Daniel Delano Jensen
Professor Jensen, who died on May 5, 2025, at age 93, joined Greenville's faculty in 1960 and taught history and political science for 36 years. Known for his engaging lectures and craftsmanship, he built custom pieces for campus facilities like the H.J. Long Gymnasium service desk and the softball field press box. He also acted in Factory Theatre productions and contributed to other campus arts projects. A respected educator and community figure, his legacy endures in wood, word, and wisdom.
Professor Thomas David Morgan
Professor Morgan passed away on April 22, 2025, at age 87. He served as Vice President for Student Development and Enrollment and was honored as Vice President Emeritus upon retirement. Professor Morgan helped shape a welcoming campus culture, advocating for inclusion, support, and spiritual formation.
Each individual modeled the University's core values—faith, service, learning, and community. By celebrating their lives, we remember how they shaped GU's story and etched their legacy into the hearts of their students. They were more than faculty members. They were mentors, scholars, leaders, and spiritual guides. They will be remembered among the Greenville giants.
Professor Lawrence Arthur "Larry" Starr
Professor Starr died on February 27, 2025, at age 91. He studied at Greenville before transferring to Western Michigan University, later earning a master's in mathematics from the University of Michigan.
After joining the Greenville faculty in 1981, he taught until his retirement in 1998. A quiet, steady presence, he helped shape countless students' lives through his devotion to the classroom and his calling to teach.
Professor Royal William Mulholland
Professor Mulholland died on February 5, 2025, at age 85. He began his career at Greenville in 1964 and served more than four decades in the Education Department. Simultaneously, he coached the women's basketball and men's and women's golf teams, achieving several milestone victories, including 500 career wins.
He guided the Panthers to their first NCCAA national tournaments, earning his place as a beloved educator and respected coach. His influence on and off the court embodied holistic development and servant leadership.
Professor Veronica (Schlenker) Ross
Professor Ross, who died on January 23, 2025, at age 78, dedicated 25 years to Greenville's Communication Department. An alumna of Greenville College, she also held advanced degrees from Indiana University and the University of Illinois. Her impact extended far beyond the classroom.
She co-authored three editions of Questions of Communication: A Practical Introduction to Theory, facilitated countless internships, and mentored students well into her retirement. Her presence on campus was marked by kindness, academic rigor, and a deep commitment to student growth.
Professor Joe Noble
Professor Noble passed away on January 10, 2025, at age 90. A music professor and conductor of the Chamber Orchestra, he attended Greenville for one year before completing His degree at Luther College.
He returned to lead musical efforts on campus, directing milestone performances like the 80th Messiah. Noble mentored students with precision and grace, enhancing the University's musical reputation while deepening its artistic soul.
Professor Galen R. Peters
Professor Peters, who died on March 26, 2024, at age 81, served Greenville from 1971 until his retirement in 2001. A professor of mathematics with a Ph.D. from Iowa State, he was celebrated for his academic discipline and generous hospitality.
He and his wife, Ella, regularly welcomed students into their home and actively supported community efforts like the Farm Heritage Museum. His influence was deeply relational, extending well beyond equations.
Professor Stanley David Walters
Professor Walters, a Greenville College alumnus, passed away on March 5, 2024, at 92. He was born in Kansas and held degrees from Central College, Asbury Theological Seminary, Princeton, and Yale, where his doctoral dissertation focused on Old Babylonian irrigation texts.
Walters returned to Greenville to teach Bible and culture classes before helping establish the Department of Religion at Central Michigan University. He spent 16 years as a professor of Old Testament at Knox College, University of Toronto, and concluded his career at Tyndale University. A lifelong scholar and pastor, he left a legacy of faith-infused academic excellence.
