Today's Featured Biography

 
Micheal Owen Michael David Kohlbeck Owen

After graduating from Ames High School, I enrolled at ISU with a major in Botany. In 1970, I received a scholarship to wrestle at Michigan Tech (where I now hold an Adjunct Professorship). I spent several weeks in 1971 in the hospital due to an injury I incurred in wrestling and dropped out of college. As the war in Viet Nam was escalating, I lost my 2S deferment and listed in the low teens in the second draft lottery.

I quickly went from 2S to 1Y (due to the wrestling injury), to 4F to 1A in the span of about 2 weeks. I reported to Fort Des Moines for my pre-induction physical with my left arm in a cast from my hand to my shoulder and a folder filled with medical records, x-rays and assorted notes stating that I was unfit for duty: the Sargent was unimpressed and told me to bend over and deemed me fit to serve. I was able to re-enroll at ISU for spring quarter 1971 and missed the opportunity to serve in the “youth in Asia” program provided by Washington DC.

I graduated from ISU with a BS in 1974 and a MS in 1975. My first job was with American Cyanamid doing field research in agricultural chemicals. The University of Illinois asked me to apply for a job in the Agronomy Department in 1977. I enrolled in a PhD program and graduated in 1982. The University of Florida at Gainesville hired me as an Assistant Professor however, I did not like working there. Fortunately, ISU recruited me and I became an Assistant Professor at ISU on December 1, 1982.

I remained at ISU for the rest of my career until my retirement in February 2018. I was promoted to Associate Professor, Professor and ultimately awarded the honorific title of University Professor. My area of “expertise” was in plant physiology, specifically weed management. I mentored over 50 graduate students, traveled internationally and became an Adjunct Professor at Escuela Agricola Panamericana in Honduras. During my career, I authored or co-authored more than 100 papers published in scientific journals, many book chapters and served on a writing committee at the National Academy of Sciences. I also got involved with the ISU Faculty Senate and served in various capacities for 16 years including a year as Faculty Senate President.

I met my wife (Gail Lynn Kohlbeck) in the fall 1971 when she was a freshman. We were married in 1977 and have two children; Melisse and Mikie. Mel is a teacher in Indianola and coaches high school softball she and Craig have two sons, Charlie (Squeaks) and Boyd Micheal (Fuzz). She was the softball player I always wanted to be. Mikie is an architect in Chicago and got me involved in hockey. He and Megan will be married this summer in Eagle Harbor, MI.

I wrestled the last time in the intramural program at ISU when I was 50. My first (and last) opponent promptly gave me the best (?) black eye I ever had (and I had many). My eye was swollen shut and I had to make numerous professional presentations with a colorful swollen eye. It was most embarrassing and I determined that I was too old for wrestling.

While I was at ISU as a student, I played fast pitch softball. I played again when I returned to Ames played until I was 55 (3rd base and bifocals). I also played slow pitch and the team I was on won the ISU championship 15 times. I also played in the city league until I was 63. I coached youth teams, umpired youth, and high school softball.

A favorite memory was when I umpired a game in Indianola and my daughter was the coach. Her team was ranked 1st in 4A and played against Ankeny who were ranked 1st in 5A. The teams were at that time undefeated and the Ankeny fans (who knew me as an umpire) were most unhappy that I was behind the plate given my daughter was a coach. The teams split the double header and eventually both won the state tournament in their respective division.

My son started to play hockey when he was 4 and the organization needed coaches. While my only skating was in figure skates (Dave Klatt, Dave Link and I used to skate together), I decided to learn to skate with hockey skates when I was 40. I coached the Ames High team one season, the ISU women’s team 6 years and actually took them to the national club tournament. I also skated in a recreational league until I was 63.

As a hockey coach, I was not pleased with the officials. Thus, I became a hockey referee and officiated youth, high school and college teams. I typically did not have any trouble with the coaches and fans, although there was a couple of times that dads wanted to “chat” with me.

A favorite memory was my son’s last high school hockey game in Lincoln NE. My wife and I were having a leisurely breakfast when the team manager called. None of the referees showed up and he wanted me to officiate. As I did not have my gear, I officiated the games in khaki slacks with skates, jersey, helmet, cup and whistle borrowed from the skate shop. I was the Iowa American Hockey Association referee-in-chief and trained officials for a number of years. All of these activities ended when I was 63.

Gail and I bought a 90-year-old house in Eagle Harbor, MI. Eagle Harbor was a place where I visited many years during family vacations and we decided it would be our vacation spot. We recently finished the renovation of the house (adding things like window that open and close, insulation, and a furnace). We plan to spend summers and fall there and likely will enjoy Christmas there when the kids and family can join us. Last winter, the snowfall amounted to 365”.

I am still active professionally and will travel internationally on occasion. As I lived in Ames most of my life, despite vowing to never return when I left with my first job, Ames was a good place to raise a family. There are many memories and incidents that I recall. Fortunately, Craig Boylan was a teacher at AHS; he and I had a pact that I would not tell stories about him and he would not reveal things he knew about me. The best thing that I learned at AHS was how to type (thanks you Ms. Garret). Sadly, while I lived in Ames and a number of classmates are Ames residents, I did not interact much due to my career. I look forward to seeing everyone. I apologize for the length of this tome.

VIEW ALL BIOGRAPHIES