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IN MEMORIAM
AULINE R. SCHRANK
Auline R. Schrank was born in Hamilton County,
Texas, on August 15, 1915. He died in Austin on February 15, 2001,
after an extended illness. Most of the intervening 85 years were
spent in Austin, where he was involved at The University of Texas
in teaching and research, and, later, in administration.
He received an associate science diploma from Tarleton Agricultural College
in 1934 and a BA degree from Southwest Texas State Teachers College in
1937. His undergraduate major was biology (with minors in education and
German), and when he entered the graduate program at UT, biology became
his major interest. He received a PhD in 1942 for work done under the direction
of Professor E. J. Lund. This involved the classical Avena coleoptile system
and the effects of electrical fields (and other physical and chemical stimuli)
on the growth and, particularly, the curvature, of the coleoptile. Most
of his research output (about 40 papers) was centered around this theme;
his teaching efforts encompassed the broader aspects of this subject and
included courses in cell physiology, human physiology, biophysics, and
general physiology.
Starting in the late 1950s, "Schrank," as everyone called him, became heavily
involved in administration—first in the Department of Zoology, as
associate chairman (1959-63), and then as chairman (1963-70). This covered
the major planning period of the new zoology building (Patterson Laboratories),
and Schrank was much involved in the process. His effectiveness as an administrator
was recognized when he was appointed associate dean of the newly-formed
College of Natural Sciences in 1971. He became acting dean in 1973 on the
retirement of the first dean of the college, Dr. Sam Ellison, and again
when Ellison's successor, Dr. Paul Olum, resigned to move to the presidency
of the University of Oregon. In 1976 Schrank was appointed dean. He retired
from that post in 1980.
Schrank had many of the best qualities of a good administrator. He was
low-key, calm, levelheaded, and fair—essential attitudes for running
a heterogeneous department (as the zoology department was), with faculty
expertise ranging all the way from molecular biology and biochemistry to
field ecology and population genetics. In the dean's office, these same
attributes served him and the college in good stead in that even broader
environment.
Schrank was an avid sportsman. He participated in football, track, baseball,
and basketball at Southwest Texas State, and, as with his academic career,
graduated to "administration" as an official in local high school football
games when his playing days were over. Later, he became a "spotter" for
Wally Pryor during UT home football games. In this function, a story is
told that his opposite number—the spotter for the visiting team—complained
one time that each week he had to learn a new roster, whereas Schrank had
the easier task of spotting the same players from the home team. "Yes," Schrank
replied, "that's true, but if you make a mistake no one notices. If I make
a mistake, half of Austin will be on the phone to correct it."
Schrank was also a keen outdoorsman. He enjoyed hunting deer, wild turkey,
and doves on his property near Dripping Springs, and fishing in the local
lakes as well as the deep sea. He was one of the originals of the Society
of Applied Piscatology (SAPS), a group of faculty, staff, and students,
who participated in an annual fishing weekend and a subsequent dinner utilizing
the "catch."
Schrank is survived by his devoted wife, Dorris, a son, Kenton, and a daughter,
Karen. Both Kenton and Karen are graduates of The University of Texas Medical
Branch, in Galveston.
Schrank had been absent from the campus for some time before his death
because of a long, debilitating illness. However, his influence is still
strong as a legacy in the form of the bricks and mortar of the Patterson
Laboratories, and in the continued growth and development of the College
of Natural Sciences.
<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 Emeritus Hugh S. Forrest (chair), H. Eldon Sutton, and Fritz
de Wette, and Professor Austin M. Gleeson.
The bibliography is available upon request from
the Office of the General Faculty.
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