[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 153 (2007), Part 6]
[Senate]
[Page 8333]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                       WILLIAM O. ``DOC'' FARBER

 Mr. THUNE. Mr. President, today I wish to recognize the 
passing of William O. ``Doc'' Farber of Vermillion, SD. Doc Farber 
passed away this week at the age of 96. He was a selfless educator who 
dedicated his time and energy to encouraging those around him to strive 
for success. He will be dearly missed by family, friends, and students, 
but his legacy will live on for generations to come.
  William O. Farber was born in 1910 in Geneseo, IL, and graduated from 
Geneseo Public High School as valedictorian in 1928. He went on to 
receive his B.A. and M.A. from Northwestern University in Chicago, 
where he graduated with honors, was a member of Phi Beta Kappa, and was 
a Harris Scholar. After earning his Ph.D. from the University of 
Wisconsin, Farber came to the University of South Dakota, USD, as an 
assistant professor in 1935. He left USD for a department chairmanship 
at North Dakota State in 1937, but returned a year later to serve as 
chair of the Department of Government, a position he held for 38 years. 
Along with teaching, Farber was heavily involved in state government 
and national service. He helped create USD's Government Research 
Bureau, served as the first director of the South Dakota Legislative 
Research Council, and was a member of South Dakota's Constitutional 
Revision and Local Government Study Commissions.
  Throughout his 70 years at the University of South Dakota, Farber 
influenced numerous well-known graduates, including many state and 
national leaders. Six of his former students were Rhodes Scholars and 
two of his students, Larry Pressler and Tim Johnson, became U.S. 
Senators. NBC anchor Tom Brokaw, USA Today founder Al Neuharth, and 
media personality Pat O'Brien also took classes from the famed 
professor. Farber was not just an educator, but served as a friend and 
mentor to many of his students. According to Brokaw, the advice he 
received from Farber while in college helped him turn his life around. 
Always looking out for his students, Doc even drove Brokaw to a job 
interview in Omaha because the future newsman's car had broken down.
  Doc Farber was an amazing teacher, a committed public servant, and an 
all-around remarkable person. South Dakota has lost a truly outstanding 
man who inspired countless students to broaden their horizons and to 
make a difference in the world. While Doc Farber will be greatly missed 
by all who knew him, he will forever be remembered for the life he 
led.

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