Dr. Richard E. Peck '61
1990 Distinguished Alumnus Award for Professional Achievement
Dr. Richard E. Peck '61 is an author, playwright, retired academic and accomplished
writer. He published the novel “Something For Joey,” which was both a Literary Guild
and Doubleday Book Club selection. He also wrote the three-act comedy, “The Cubs are
in Fourth Place and Fading,” which earned the C. Brooke Fry Award from Theater Americana
and for teleplays for television series such as “Owen Marshall, Counselor at Law.”
Peck was the first member of his family to earn a college degree. After high school
and two years of factory work, he enlisted in the Marine Corps, as a green PFC and
was selected for flight training. In June 1956, he was commissioned as the youngest
officer and pilot in the Marine Corps at the age of 19. He then completed his degree
at Carroll majoring in English where he was active in Carroll Players and Sigma Tau
Epsilon.
He went on to lead a distinguished career in academia. He taught English at the University
of Virginia and Temple University, and then filled administrative positions at the
University of Alabama and Arizona State. Subsequently, he held the presidency at Arizona
State University, the University of New Mexico and the University of South Florida.
Throughout his rise in academia he continued to serve on a variety of community and
statewide boards and committees. He was known as a leader with an outstanding academic
record who demonstrated a real commitment in minority recruitment and retention, diversification,
and ability to effectively handle and resolve institutional crisis and transition.
Currently, Dr. Peck is a member of the Screen Writers Guild of America (West) and
has contributed occasional columns to a number of newspapers. Dick, and his wife Donna
(Krippner) Peck '60, are enjoying retirement in New Mexico.
