J.O. Grantham, former vice president for extension and university relations at Oklahoma State University in Stillwater, Oklahoma, was the father of the National University Teleconference Network, NUTN, now the National University Telecommunications Network. The organization was founded by his invitation to 85 institutions to meet in March of 1982 in Kansas City to discuss cooperative efforts in electronic outreach. That meeting drew representatives from 45 institutions, and eight individuals were elected to a committee to plan the organization. The formative organizational meeting was held on the OSU campus in Stillwater later that year.
In the June 16, 1994, edition of the Georgia Center's "JUNTO 2000" program, Grantham was recognized as a "Pioneer" in the field. As host, I asked him how he would like to be remembered when, in a hundred years, continuing educators gathered to discuss the field's history and the subject of NUTN came up.
"I would hope that they would be able to understand the time and circumstances that existed when we made this effort, and would perceive that it did its little bit to help shift the thinking and the actions of higher education toward the utilization of more effective communication systems -- which will be as natural to that group as breathing in and out, at that time. And they will question, in a sense, why it was a problem back then. It will be an exciting time, and I'd like to live that long to see it!"
Certainly the contributions and legacy that have resulted from J.O.'s efforts will live that long.
The field of adult education lost one of its longtime leaders Thanksgiving Day when Malcolm Knowles died from a stroke at his home in Fayetteville, Arkansas. He was 84.
Knowles was the founding executive secretary of the Adult Education Association of the United States (now the American Association for Adult and Continuing Education, AAACE), was professor of education at Boston University, and professor of adult education at North Carolina State University until his retirement in the late 1970s. He was an undergraduate of Harvard and earned his master's and doctorate at the University of Chicago, where he studied with Cyril O. Houle, noted author and educator.
Among Knowles' many contributions to the field was the operational development of the adult learning theory of andragogy and his strong advocacy of the self-directed learner concept. These theories and concepts permeated his extensive worldwide career of teaching and practice throughout his life. Malcolm probably contributed more to the enhancement of learning for adults in the latter half of this century than any other individual.
His knowledge, wisdom, humor, and practical approach to education for adults will be missed.
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