Wartburg College will award an honorary doctorate posthumously to Elmer W. Kretzschmar, a 1936 graduate, at Commencement Sunday, May 26.

Kretzschmar, who was raised in Sumner and Strawberry Point, passed away Nov. 18, 2012 on his 100^th birthday. He was known for his commitment to education as a teacher for 30 years and administrator for 12 and for his service with the U.S. military for 28 years.

He graduated from Wartburg with a Bachelor of Arts degree in English. He was Wartburg’s first men’s basketball captain, a tennis player and senior class officer. He was inducted into the Wartburg Athletic Hall of Fame in October 2005.

He earned master’s degrees from the universities of Iowa and North Texas.

Former Wartburg basketball coach Lewis “Buzz” Levick knew Kretzschmar well and said he’s deserving of the honor.

“He’d been in education his whole life,” Levick said. “He felt very strongly about education at Wartburg and has always had great admiration for the school.”

Kretzschmar taught English, history, Latin and ROTC advanced courses and coached several sports. He was principal of Plainfield Public Schools and superintendent in Waucoma before moving to higher education as a dean at the State University of New York-Plattsburgh and Texas Christian University’s Evening College.

Kretzschmar continued to inspire others while well into his 70s, teaching marketing and personal development courses to future business and community leaders in the Dallas-Fort Worth area.

The University of North Texas School of Education honored him with its first Lifetime Achievement Award in 2009.

He was an Air Force squadron commander on the West Coast and director of personnel at a U.S. installation in India during World War II, squadron commander in South Korea, and executive officer for intelligence gathering and intercontinental missile initiatives.

He completed his military career in 1968 as a lieutenant colonel while serving as executive officer of the 19^th Air Division in Texas.

Kretzschmar was awarded the USAF Commendation Medal, World War II Victory Medal and the National Defense Medal for his service.

“He was a great individual with a terrific family,” Levick said.

His wife, Suzanne, passed away in 2010 after their 65^th anniversary. They had three sons, all doctors, and a daughter who is a teacher.