A shout-out to Prof. Loomer, Class of 1933

If today’s graduates think it’s a tough year to be entering the economy, they should talk to Al Loomer.

The UW-Green Bay professor emeritus was acknowledged at spring Commencement for his impressive string of years participating as a member of the platform party for the twice-a-year ceremony.

Interim Chancellor David Ward invited Loomer — who turned 96 last month — to stand as the audience applauded. Ward noted that Loomer received his bachelor’s degree (from Acadia University in Nova Scotia) in 1933, at the height of the Great Depression, “and he certainly went on from there to a career of great distinction.”

The mathematician, meteorologist and veteran of the Royal Canadian Air Force Navigation School began teaching college-level math at the UW Center campus in Green Bay in 1955. He retired from UW-Green Bay in 1983.

Loomer received a nice round of applause from the Commencement audience.