January 16, 2019  Today we are honored to host RCFC member, Chancellor, and President of Colorado State University, Dr. Anthony A. Frank, to deliver his annual "State of the University" address.  Tony will be introduced by Kirvin Knox and will be joined by a number of CSU officials.  This event continues a Rotary Club of Fort Collins tradition that dates back to the administration of William E. Morgan, also a former member of our club who served as Colorado A&M / Colorado State University President from 1949 to 1969.

Tony Frank is the 14th president of Colorado State University, one of the nation’s leading public land-grant research universities with nearly 33,000 students and more than $370 million in annual research activity. Since his appointment to the presidency in 2008, he has overseen a period of record fund-raising and enrollment, rising graduation rates, increased diversity, unprecedented research support, and more than $1.5 billion in campus infrastructure improvements. President Frank was named to the dual role of Chancellor of the Colorado State University System in 2015, and he will leave the Fort Collins campus in July 2019 to become full-time chancellor of the CSU System.

President Frank earned his undergraduate degree in biology from Wartburg College, followed by a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree from the University of Illinois, and a Ph.D. and residences in pathology and toxicology at Purdue. Prior to his appointment as CSU’s president, he served as the University’s provost and executive vice president, vice president for research, chairman of the Pathology Department, and Associate Dean for Research in the College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences.

Dr. Frank serves on a number of state and national boards including the University Research Alliance; National Renewable Energy Laboratory External Advisory Council; the NCAA Division I Board of Directors; the National Western Stock Show Association Board of Directors; Board of  Managers, College Football Playoff; the Boettcher Foundation Board of Directors; the Denver Metro Chamber Board of Directors; and previously the Association of Public & Land Grant Universities Commission on International Initiatives. Professional and personal honors include induction into the Illinois and Colorado 4-H Halls of Fame, the Carl J. Norden Distinguished Teaching Award at both CSU and Oregon State, and being named the 2018 National Western Stock Show Citizen of the West.

FCRC member and owner of Vessey Funeral Services, Steve Vessey’s  presentation was entitled “50 Years of the  Funeral Home Industry 1969-2019”.

His contrast of 1969 and 2019 was both informative and entertaining, and, like so many things, showed how much things have changed locally and nationally in the last 50 years. Some of this has been driven by the large population growth in Northern Colorado as well as the origin of those who have relocated to NOCO (California).

In 1969 the population of Ft Collins was 35,000 and the CSU student enrollment was 10,000.There were 4 funeral homes, all family owned and directors and their families all lived above their business. Funeral directors also doubled as ambulance drivers and deputy coroners with the ability to pronounce death. The obituary entry in the Coloradoan was free; compared to the current rate of $1.27 per word. Essentially all deceased had the same routine-100% embalming, casket, viewing and funeral service. The cremation rate was 3-6% and 95% were buried in our 2 local cemeteries.  Almost all deaths occurred at PVH or a nursing home.

Fast forward to 2019 (2018 figures) in Ft Collins - The population currently may be as high as 178,000. There are still 4 funeral homes but one is part of a large corporation (SCI). The cremation rate is 90%.  Cremains are buried, saved or scattered. All funeral homes have a crematorium. Some families do “direct cremation” (DIY). The term “Celebration of life” was first used in 2000 but now this is the title for the majority of services. The majority of deaths in NOCO occur at home. Hospice played a big role in this trend, and , the first, Pathways Hospice, started locally in 1979.

Finally, preplanning for that inevitable time was discussed as well as veteran’s death benefits.