Over the last 44 years, Marilyn Stokstad served Kansas University in many special ways.

Some years ago, a Journal-World editorial writer asked who on the Kansas University campus at that time eventually would be looked upon as a truly special and outstanding faculty member. Who would be remembered for years to come?

There are many, many top-flight faculty members, and it is dangerous to single out any one person. One of the distinguishing features of the KU faculty is that so many of them receive attractive offers from other universities, most at an increased salary, and yet they elect to remain at KU. This attachment to KU and Lawrence results in many faculty members with distinguished and long tenure on Mount Oread.

This past weekend, one KU faculty member ended a truly outstanding 44 years of service to the university and its students.

As a faculty member, Marilyn Stokstad has a record few achieve, at KU or any other university. She is the Judith Harris Murphy Distinguished Professor of Art History at KU. She has filled almost every possible role as a KU teacher. She has been department chair, adviser, curator, author, researcher, professional society president, editorial consultant, benefactor, part of the Kansas Board of Regents search committee for a new chancellor, a member of the athletic board and many other offices and activities that have added to the richness of her teaching and leadership at KU.

At one of several retirement gatherings in honor of Stokstad, terms such as openness, intelligence, intellectually honest, determined, fearless, tireless, enthusiastic and a person with a contagious personality all were used to describe the world-famous art history scholar.

Chancellor Robert Hemenway noted Stokstad typifies what “we all would like KU to be.” He said the energetic, talented Stokstad is “one of the few faculty members we can say with conviction that she represented the best of us.”

Fortunately, Stokstad will continue to make Lawrence her home, but she has invitations and requests from throughout the country and abroad that could fill her itinerary for months and years to come. She may not be teaching any more classes at KU, but she will continue an extremely busy schedule, always alert to how her activities and associations could benefit the university.

Many praised her during the retirement festivities, and there is no question but that she could continue to be one of the university’s most outstanding and effective teachers. But in her friendly, unassuming manner, she said, “You know it’s time to retire when former students invite you to their retirement parties,” or “You know it’s time to retire when everyone assumes you were teaching when Phog Allen was coaching.”

Stokstad is one of a kind, whether as a teacher, an author, a leader or a mentor who always was quick to tell her talented students, “you can do it” when they may have had doubts about meeting challenging assignments or opportunities.

For 44 years, KU and its students have been fortunate to have the talented and enthusiastic Stokstad as a member of the faculty. She will be missed and remembered for years to come.