Walther Prausnitz

Walther Prausnitz  (b. 1924 – d. 2005)

  • English Professor 1952-1996

  • English Department Chair 1951-1966 & 1968-1970

  • Director of Liberal Arts Studies 1970-1999 

Biography

Walther Prausnitz, “King of the Buffaloes,” was born in Cologne, Germany and immigrated to New York City in the 1930s. After graduating from high school he began taking evening and correspondence courses, mostly through the University of Chicago. He earned the equivalent of a bachelor’s degree from the University of Chicago in English and philosophy but needed to complete a required year of residency. He moved to Chicago for the one required year and then back to New York only to return three years later to complete a master’s and doctorate degree specializing in comparative literature.

He joined Concordia’s faculty in 1952 to chair the English Department, a position that he held until 1970 when he became the Director of Liberal Arts Studies until his retirement. Prausnitz was a main figure in constructing Concordia’s curriculum. In 1975, Prausnitz created and edited the semiannual publication Teaching at Concordia. He also originated Concordia’s Cultural Events Series (then called the Fine Arts Series). Some of Prausnitz’s honors include the Alma and Reuel Wije Distinguished Professorship Award in 1976; the Ole and Lucy Flaat Distinguished Service Award in 1985; and an honorary doctorate from Dana College in Blair, NE in 1981. In 1965, he was named Concordia Teacher of the Year by the AKX-Mondamin societies.