Beloved "Father of Listening"; founder and first President of the International Communication Association. Professor University of Minnesota. Children: Ned Byron and Jack Galen. Married December 28, 1933, Woodland Heights Farm, Toolesboro, Louisa County, Iowa. OBITUARY: Ralph was born in Mascot, Nebraska on March 1, 1907, to Nelson Byron Nichols and Mary (Livingston) Nichols, and -- following a two-month decline after breaking a hip -- also passed away at MeritCare. Until the time of Ralph's fall, they were still living on their own, as they had since their Dec. 28, 1933 marriage at Woodland Heights Farm where Lucile was raised. Their successful pairing began due to their mutual love and respect for education.
Lucile graduated from Oakville High School in 1929 and became a teacher at Wapello in 1932 after getting her certificate from Iowa Wesleyan College in Mt. Pleasant. She met Ralph at a teacher's convention and they were married at the historic farm (1836) soon after. Her father Earl was born and died in the same farmhouse, now listed in the County Register.
Ralph's family moved back to Cedar Falls, Iowa, before World War I. He graduated from Cedar Falls High School in 1925 and with honors from Iowa State Teachers College (now UNI) in 1929. He taught high school in Geneseo, Elkader, and Fort Dodge while earning his M.A. in Speech at the University of Iowa in 1934. Ralph became an Instructor in the Rhetoric Department on the St. Paul Campus of the University of Minnesota in 1937, and by 1945 had become an Associate Professor and Head of Department. In 1947 he finished his Ph.D. at the University of Iowa.
He had an amazingly productive career, authoring or co-authoring 22 books still sold today, as well as scores of articles in professional journals and popular magazines. He became President of the Speech Association of America. He was founder and President of the International Communication Association. And he was founder and first President of the International Listening Association. He retired as Emeritus Professor from the University of Minnesota in 1972.
Ralph and Lucile are survived by son Jack, from Sandpoint, Idaho, a daughter-in-law, Linda, from Norman, Oklahoma, five grandchildren, and nine great-grandchildren. They were preceded in death by all seven of Ralph's and both of Lucile's brothers and sisters. Lucile was preceded in death by son Ned, November 17, 2007
Funeral Arrangements and Inquiries: Dudgeon-McCulley Funeral Home.
Open House and Respects: 3-5 p.m. Friday, July 25, 2008; Woodland Heights Farm in Toolesboro, courtesy of Matt and Tracy Gish.
"All who knew 'Nick' were blessed by knowing a quiet giant who served the world by mentoring many and by advancing listening research, teaching, and training."
Lucile graduated from Oakville High School in 1929 and became a teacher at Wapello in 1932 after getting her certificate from Iowa Wesleyan College in Mt. Pleasant. She met Ralph at a teacher's convention and they were married at the historic farm (1836) soon after. Her father Earl was born and died in the same farmhouse, now listed in the County Register.
Ralph's family moved back to Cedar Falls, Iowa, before World War I. He graduated from Cedar Falls High School in 1925 and with honors from Iowa State Teachers College (now UNI) in 1929. He taught high school in Geneseo, Elkader, and Fort Dodge while earning his M.A. in Speech at the University of Iowa in 1934. Ralph became an Instructor in the Rhetoric Department on the St. Paul Campus of the University of Minnesota in 1937, and by 1945 had become an Associate Professor and Head of Department. In 1947 he finished his Ph.D. at the University of Iowa.
He had an amazingly productive career, authoring or co-authoring 22 books still sold today, as well as scores of articles in professional journals and popular magazines. He became President of the Speech Association of America. He was founder and President of the International Communication Association. And he was founder and first President of the International Listening Association. He retired as Emeritus Professor from the University of Minnesota in 1972.
Ralph and Lucile are survived by son Jack, from Sandpoint, Idaho, a daughter-in-law, Linda, from Norman, Oklahoma, five grandchildren, and nine great-grandchildren. They were preceded in death by all seven of Ralph's and both of Lucile's brothers and sisters. Lucile was preceded in death by son Ned, November 17, 2007
Funeral Arrangements and Inquiries: Dudgeon-McCulley Funeral Home.
Open House and Respects: 3-5 p.m. Friday, July 25, 2008; Woodland Heights Farm in Toolesboro, courtesy of Matt and Tracy Gish.
"All who knew 'Nick' were blessed by knowing a quiet giant who served the world by mentoring many and by advancing listening research, teaching, and training."
Beloved "Father of Listening"; founder and first President of the International Communication Association. Professor University of Minnesota. Children: Ned Byron and Jack Galen. Married December 28, 1933, Woodland Heights Farm, Toolesboro, Louisa County, Iowa. OBITUARY: Ralph was born in Mascot, Nebraska on March 1, 1907, to Nelson Byron Nichols and Mary (Livingston) Nichols, and -- following a two-month decline after breaking a hip -- also passed away at MeritCare. Until the time of Ralph's fall, they were still living on their own, as they had since their Dec. 28, 1933 marriage at Woodland Heights Farm where Lucile was raised. Their successful pairing began due to their mutual love and respect for education.
Lucile graduated from Oakville High School in 1929 and became a teacher at Wapello in 1932 after getting her certificate from Iowa Wesleyan College in Mt. Pleasant. She met Ralph at a teacher's convention and they were married at the historic farm (1836) soon after. Her father Earl was born and died in the same farmhouse, now listed in the County Register.
Ralph's family moved back to Cedar Falls, Iowa, before World War I. He graduated from Cedar Falls High School in 1925 and with honors from Iowa State Teachers College (now UNI) in 1929. He taught high school in Geneseo, Elkader, and Fort Dodge while earning his M.A. in Speech at the University of Iowa in 1934. Ralph became an Instructor in the Rhetoric Department on the St. Paul Campus of the University of Minnesota in 1937, and by 1945 had become an Associate Professor and Head of Department. In 1947 he finished his Ph.D. at the University of Iowa.
He had an amazingly productive career, authoring or co-authoring 22 books still sold today, as well as scores of articles in professional journals and popular magazines. He became President of the Speech Association of America. He was founder and President of the International Communication Association. And he was founder and first President of the International Listening Association. He retired as Emeritus Professor from the University of Minnesota in 1972.
Ralph and Lucile are survived by son Jack, from Sandpoint, Idaho, a daughter-in-law, Linda, from Norman, Oklahoma, five grandchildren, and nine great-grandchildren. They were preceded in death by all seven of Ralph's and both of Lucile's brothers and sisters. Lucile was preceded in death by son Ned, November 17, 2007
Funeral Arrangements and Inquiries: Dudgeon-McCulley Funeral Home.
Open House and Respects: 3-5 p.m. Friday, July 25, 2008; Woodland Heights Farm in Toolesboro, courtesy of Matt and Tracy Gish.
"All who knew 'Nick' were blessed by knowing a quiet giant who served the world by mentoring many and by advancing listening research, teaching, and training."
Lucile graduated from Oakville High School in 1929 and became a teacher at Wapello in 1932 after getting her certificate from Iowa Wesleyan College in Mt. Pleasant. She met Ralph at a teacher's convention and they were married at the historic farm (1836) soon after. Her father Earl was born and died in the same farmhouse, now listed in the County Register.
Ralph's family moved back to Cedar Falls, Iowa, before World War I. He graduated from Cedar Falls High School in 1925 and with honors from Iowa State Teachers College (now UNI) in 1929. He taught high school in Geneseo, Elkader, and Fort Dodge while earning his M.A. in Speech at the University of Iowa in 1934. Ralph became an Instructor in the Rhetoric Department on the St. Paul Campus of the University of Minnesota in 1937, and by 1945 had become an Associate Professor and Head of Department. In 1947 he finished his Ph.D. at the University of Iowa.
He had an amazingly productive career, authoring or co-authoring 22 books still sold today, as well as scores of articles in professional journals and popular magazines. He became President of the Speech Association of America. He was founder and President of the International Communication Association. And he was founder and first President of the International Listening Association. He retired as Emeritus Professor from the University of Minnesota in 1972.
Ralph and Lucile are survived by son Jack, from Sandpoint, Idaho, a daughter-in-law, Linda, from Norman, Oklahoma, five grandchildren, and nine great-grandchildren. They were preceded in death by all seven of Ralph's and both of Lucile's brothers and sisters. Lucile was preceded in death by son Ned, November 17, 2007
Funeral Arrangements and Inquiries: Dudgeon-McCulley Funeral Home.
Open House and Respects: 3-5 p.m. Friday, July 25, 2008; Woodland Heights Farm in Toolesboro, courtesy of Matt and Tracy Gish.
"All who knew 'Nick' were blessed by knowing a quiet giant who served the world by mentoring many and by advancing listening research, teaching, and training."
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