Alan F. Wilt
Encyclopedia
Alan Freese Wilt was Professor Emeritus of History at Iowa State University.
He was born in Nappanee, Indiana
. He received a B.A. in History
from DePauw University
, and an M.A. and Ph.D., both from the University of Michigan
. He served in the U.S. Air Force from 1960 to 1963.
Wilt taught Modern European and Military History at Iowa State University
from 1967 until his retirement in 1999. He was a visiting professor three times during his career, at the Air War College
at Maxwell Air Force Base
(1982–83), in the Iowa-Arizona London Study Abroad Program (1991), and at Glasgow University (1997). He received a State of Iowa Regents' Faculty Excellence Award in 1993 and served on the ISU Faculty Senate and many University committees.
Wilt was active in many professional organizations, including the Society for Military History
, the Western Association for German Studies, and the German Studies Association
. He also served on the editorial board of the Journal of Military History from 1998-2001. His scholarship made him a recognized authority in World War II
military strategy. He was the author of five books and he contributed to 10 others, as well as being the author of numerous articles. At the time of his death he was researching the Anglo
-American
Combined Chiefs of Staff
during World War II
.
Wilt was a man of deep faith, devoted to his family and to his work. He had many interests including golf and ISU women's basketball. He was a lifelong Chicago Cubs
fan. He loved gardening, especially roses, and he was a Master Gardener. He did volunteer work at the Ames Public Library, Reiman Gardens
, and Collegiate Methodist Church. He died in 2005 of interstitial lung disease.
He was born in Nappanee, Indiana
Nappanee, Indiana
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 6,710 people, 2,521 households, and 1,792 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,818.9 people per square mile . There were 2,647 housing units at an average density of 717.5 per square mile...
. He received a B.A. in History
History
History is the discovery, collection, organization, and presentation of information about past events. History can also mean the period of time after writing was invented. Scholars who write about history are called historians...
from DePauw University
DePauw University
DePauw University in Greencastle, Indiana, USA, is a private, national liberal arts college with an enrollment of approximately 2,400 students. The school has a Methodist heritage and was originally known as Indiana Asbury University. DePauw is a member of both the Great Lakes Colleges Association...
, and an M.A. and Ph.D., both from the University of Michigan
University of Michigan
The University of Michigan is a public research university located in Ann Arbor, Michigan in the United States. It is the state's oldest university and the flagship campus of the University of Michigan...
. He served in the U.S. Air Force from 1960 to 1963.
Wilt taught Modern European and Military History at Iowa State University
Iowa State University
Iowa State University of Science and Technology, more commonly known as Iowa State University , is a public land-grant and space-grant research university located in Ames, Iowa, United States. Iowa State has produced astronauts, scientists, and Nobel and Pulitzer Prize winners, along with a host of...
from 1967 until his retirement in 1999. He was a visiting professor three times during his career, at the Air War College
Air War College
The Air War College is a part of the United States Air Force's Air University, headquartered at Maxwell Air Force Base in Montgomery, Alabama. Air University's higher headquarters is Air Education and Training Command headquartered at Randolph Air Force Base, San Antonio, Texas. The Air War...
at Maxwell Air Force Base
Maxwell Air Force Base
Maxwell Air Force Base , officially known as Maxwell-Gunter Air Force Base, is a United States Air Force installation under the Air Education and Training Command . The installation is located in Montgomery, Alabama, US. It was named in honor of Second Lieutenant William C...
(1982–83), in the Iowa-Arizona London Study Abroad Program (1991), and at Glasgow University (1997). He received a State of Iowa Regents' Faculty Excellence Award in 1993 and served on the ISU Faculty Senate and many University committees.
Wilt was active in many professional organizations, including the Society for Military History
Society for Military History
The Society for Military History is an United States-based international organization of scholars who research, write and teach military history of all time periods and places. It includes Naval history, air power history and studies of technology, ideas, and homefronts. It publishes the...
, the Western Association for German Studies, and the German Studies Association
German Studies Association
The German Studies Association is an international organization of scholars in history, literature, economics, culture studies, and political science who study Germany, Austria, and Switzerland...
. He also served on the editorial board of the Journal of Military History from 1998-2001. His scholarship made him a recognized authority in World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
military strategy. He was the author of five books and he contributed to 10 others, as well as being the author of numerous articles. At the time of his death he was researching the Anglo
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
-American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
Combined Chiefs of Staff
Combined Chiefs of Staff
The Combined Chiefs of Staff was the supreme military command for the western Allies during World War II. It was a body constituted from the British Chiefs of Staff Committee and the American Joint Chiefs of Staff....
during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
.
Wilt was a man of deep faith, devoted to his family and to his work. He had many interests including golf and ISU women's basketball. He was a lifelong Chicago Cubs
Chicago Cubs
The Chicago Cubs are a professional baseball team located in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the Central Division of Major League Baseball's National League. They are one of two Major League clubs based in Chicago . The Cubs are also one of the two remaining charter members of the National...
fan. He loved gardening, especially roses, and he was a Master Gardener. He did volunteer work at the Ames Public Library, Reiman Gardens
Reiman Gardens
Reiman Gardens is situated on a 14- acre site located immediately south of Jack Trice Stadium on the Iowa State University campus in Ames, Iowa. Reiman Gardens is a year-round facility that has become one of the top ten attractions in Central Iowa...
, and Collegiate Methodist Church. He died in 2005 of interstitial lung disease.