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IN MEMORIAM
FRANCES GOODHUE LODER
Frances Goodhue Loder, a distinguished
teacher, director, and actor, died at her home in Austin on January
26, 2000. She joined the faculty of the Department of Drama, as it was
then called, in January 1961 as a visiting assistant professor of acting.
She continued to teach in the acting program until her retirement in
June 1975.
Born in White Cloud, Minnesota, on September
18, 1904, the youngest of four daughters of George and Nellie Goodhue,
she attended schools in Chicago and Goodland, Kansas, graduating from
Sherman County High School in Goodland in June 1923. During high school,
she developed a love of speech and theatre which led her to matriculate
in the School of Speech at Northwestern University in September 1923.
She studied under the renowned Dean Dennis and other mentors, receiving
from them numerous scholarships and awards for her work. In 1925, she
won first prize in the Pi Kappa Delta National Oratorical Contest, the
first of several prizes she would win for excellence in her art. She
graduated from Northwestern with a BL degree in June 1927. After graduation,
Professor Loder taught as an adjunct professor of drama at Nebraska
Wesleyan University. Because of her ability to inspire, many church,
civic, and fraternal groups in and around Lincoln, Nebraska, often invited
her to give interpretive readings of poetry and other genres.
While in Lincoln, she met and fell in
love with James Edwin Loder, then a high school principal in distant
western Nebraska, and later an insurance company executive. Their commuter
courtship culminated in marriage on December 23, 1930, by which time
Frances was acting head of the drama department at NWU. During the following
spring, a company of her students won the National College Theatre Tournament
at Northwestern University. At the end of the 1930-31 school year, she
resigned from NWU and became a full-time housewife and, from December
5, 1931, a mother. On that date, a son, James Edwin Loder, Jr. arrived,
followed, on June 23, 1940, by a daughter, Kathryn Rockwood Loder. Absorbed
in raising her family, she still managed to accept invitations to perform
her inspirational readings. In 1953, the family moved to Austin when
Mr. Loder became an executive with Farmers Insurance Company. Shortly
thereafter, he fell ill with cancer and died in 1955, leaving Professor
Loder and her children bereft of husband and father.
After a break of over 25 years, Frances
resumed teaching in 1957 at Western Michigan University as an instructor
of directing and oral interpretation. From 1958 to 1960, she taught
communications at Southern Illinois University. Desiring to refresh
and improve her skills, she attended New York University during the
summers from 1958 until 1960, receiving an MA in theatre education.
Professor Loder then approached Dr. Loren Winship, chairman of the drama
department at The University of Texas at Austin, seeking a teaching
position. Having come from Nebraska himself and knowing of Frances's
talent and competence, he offered her a visiting professorship. During
her years at the University, Professor Loder taught classes in acting,
voice, and diction, while directing student scenes for the weekly Demonstration
Laboratory, or Dem Lab, as it was known. She also tutored students in
oral interpretation and acting while contributing enthusiastically to
the department’s production program. In 1963, she received the
Texas Excellence Teaching Award.
Professor Loder was promoted to associate
professor in 1971, and she retired in 1975. Shortly thereafter, her
daughter, Kay, died of complications with diabetes. Professor Loder
had left Texas to be closer to her, but after Kay's death Frances returned
to Austin to find solace in its happy associations and with her many
friends.
She was a member of the American Association
of Speech Teachers and the American Association of University Women.
She was elected to membership in three academic honor societies: Pi
Kappa Delta, Theta Alpha Phi, and Phi Mu Gamma. Few faculty members
enjoyed the devotion and loyalty from students that she did; she remained
a close friend to many of her former students, giving them aid and support
in the early stages of their careers in New York and Los Angeles, and
often exchanging visits with them. A woman of dignity and grace, she
was a model for actors and taught her students by example as well as
by lecture.
Professor Loder rejoiced in the high
regard of all who knew and worked with her; she leaves a warm memory
of professional excellence and personal friendship. Those who had the
privilege and honor to work with her will miss her spirited and engaging
love of the theatre, especially of actors and acting.
She is survived by her son, James Edwin
Loder, Jr., and his wife, Arlene; their daughters, Kim Engelmann and
Tamara Jo Tiss; and three great-grandchildren, Christopher, Julie, and
Jonathan Engelmann.
<signed>
Larry R. Faulkner,
President
The University of Texas at Austin
<signed>
John R. Durbin, Secretary
The General Faculty
This memorial resolution was prepared by a special committee consisting
of Professors John W. Brokaw (chair), David A. Nancarrow, and Coleman
A. Jennings.
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