Hall of Fame Member Biographies

Ivan Lurz

One of the principles in biology is that ''Everything is everywhere,” attesting to the wide distribution of viable life on the planet. In the academic world, talent is similarly distributed, and outstanding teachers can be found everywhere. Ivan Lurz is a primary example of the biology principle. In 1972, Lurz accepted a position at Claremore Community College, where he led the biology department until 1999. He constructed a greenhouse, built a nature walk near the campus, took countless field trips with students, and wrote grants to upgrade science equipment. After retiring, he served as adjunct science teacher at Tulsa Community College. Lurz was inducted into the Oklahoma Higher Education Hall of Fame in 2004.