Dr. Robert S. Eicher, the first president of Southeast Community College, died Thursday in Lincoln. He was 85.
Eicher held numerous positions at the college prior to becoming president in August 1973. From 1951 to 1969 he served as assistant to Lowell Welsh, who was the first full-time director of Nebraska’s first publicly supported postsecondary vocational school. During much of that same time Eicher was an instructor at the Milford school, which was known as Nebraska State Trade School, Nebraska Vocational Technical School, and Nebraska Technical College.
After a four-year stint as director of career education at Des Moines Area Community College, Eicher returned to Milford to serve as the first president of Southeast Community College, a position he held until 1992.
Dr. Jack Huck, current SCC president, considered Eicher a friend and mentor.
“For those of us who knew Dr. Eicher, we remember a kind and compassionate leader of great integrity and vision who provided distinguished service as our president,” Huck said. “All of us who serve the College today build upon the foundations created by those who have come before us, and that is certainly true in the case of Dr. Eicher. He will always be an important part of SCC.”
One of Eicher’s immediate challenges as president in 1973 was to successfully integrate three formerly independent educational institutions (Fairbury, Lincoln and Milford) into one common system.
As SCC president, Eicher had vision. During his tenure many buildings were constructed, programs added, campuses evolved, and partnerships were formed with numerous corporations, including General Motors and John Deere in the 1980s. Enrollment at SCC’s Milford Campus surpassed 1,000 students in 1982.
Upon his retirement as president he continued to serve the College as a member and chair of the SCC Foundation Board of Directors. On Aug. 23, 2011, members of the current Foundation Board presented Eicher a plaque for his leadership and service to the Foundation from 1975 to 2011.
Richard Becker, executive director of the Foundation, said Eicher had a tremendous impact on SCC, particularly students.
“I’ve known Bob for eight years, and I have appreciated his leadership and friendship during those eight years,” Becker said. “Looking back, his vision for the Foundation really stands out to me.”
Stan Matzke, a long-time Foundation Board member, remembered how the Foundation began.
“We developed the Foundation because we had a group of students who couldn’t get to the next quarter without some financial help,” he said. “Bob was instrumental in getting it all started.”
Eicher grew up on a farm near Milford and graduated from Milford High School in 1944. After graduation, he enrolled at the University of Nebraska, only to have his education interrupted one year later when he was drafted. After serving his country, Eicher completed his bachelor’s degree in business in 1950.
Eicher is survived by daughters Cathy (Rick) MacInnes of Omaha, Diane K. (Doug) Caulkins of Denver and Nancy Eicher of Minneapolis, four grandchildren, and many nieces and nephews. His wife of 58 years, Jan, died May 10, 2011.