ELLENSBURG – When Roy Wahle was growing up on No. 6 Road in Ellensburg, financial aid for college wasn’t much of an option. So he came up with his own way to finance a college education.

“I raised chickens and strawberries to earn enough money to go to college,” says Wahle. He earned enough money with his 100 chickens and acre of strawberries to enroll in Central Washington College of Education, which later became Central Washington University.

“But my college education got interrupted by World War II,” he says. Wahle joined the Army and was sent to Alaska, where he worked for Army intelligence.

But education wasn’t far from his mind and he returned to finish school when his stint in Alaska was over.

“I loved education,” he says, looking back at more than a half century spent in the profession during an interview from his bed at the Royal Vista Care Center. “Of course, the earnings were not overwhelming.”

Wahle has been at the care center for the last seven months. His health could be better — he doesn’t hear too well and he is tired a lot — but his mind is sharp and his spirits are good.

Wahle taught at all levels, from elementary school to college. He earned his Ph.D. and worked as an administrator, serving as superintendent for the Bellevue School District.

In 1957, he was selected to be a trustee at Central. He was surprised.

“I couldn’t understand why they wanted me,” says Wahle. He was appointed by Gov. Al Rosellini, a two-term Democratic governor. “My cousin was a state senator and knew the governor, I guess.”

Jim Brooks was president of Central from 1961-1978. While he didn’t know why Wahle came to be named to the board, he was glad he was.

“He was the only person with a background in education,” said Brooks. Whether it was his background in education or just his farming work ethic, Wahle came to trustee meetings prepared, said Brooks. Wahle had read all the documents and was familiar with the issues the board would address.  “He was a great board member,” said Brooks.

He said Wahle was a trustee during a time of change and growth for the college.

“We were undergoing a major transition,” says Brooks. “He was a great help in developing the campus.”

The college grew in enrollment and faculty, as well as the number of programs it offered. The college was originally known as a teacher college but started adding liberal arts courses to its offering, said Brooks.

It also underwent a building spurt, with several new buildings constructed, including Nicholson Pavilion. Wahle had a role in the design of the building after an unsatisfactory viewing experience at another gym.

“I went to a University of Washington game and I had to sit behind a pole,” he says. He decided that shouldn’t be, so he went to the architect designing the basketball gym for Central and asked if could do something about that. A hanging ceiling was the answer.

“They called it Wahle’s folly,” he joked. “But it worked because you could see things.”

About the time Central was growing, the Wahle family was also growing. Roy and Betty Lou, who were married in 1944, met at Ellensburg High School, although they didn’t date, said Betty Lou.

“We started dating in college,” she said. “But we knew each other forever.”

She enjoyed traveling, something the family did a lot. India, China, Africa, Eastern Europe, the family went to many places.

“I think we went to 48 countries in all,” she said.

“I went there because India was going to add a university,” says Wahle, who was there as a Fulbright scholar. The family took the children with them and their son, Chuck, an Ellensburg school board member who taught for 30 years, says that is one of the reasons he went into education.

Wahle spent the latter part of his career in Bellevue, an area he liked.

“I liked it because you could just throw a seed in the ground and flowers would grow,” he says. Gardening was one of his favorite activities.

“I like rhododendrons the best,” he says. “They’re so beautiful.”

The Wahles moved back to Ellensburg a couple years ago. It didn’t take them long to make a decision, said Chuck.

“They came to see a play and two days later we got a call that they had bought a house,” he says.

Education isn’t the only field in which a Wahle has excelled. Roy and Betty Lou’s grandson Mike Wahle is an all-pro offensive guard signed a contract with the Seattle Seahawks in the off-season.

But it is education that has Dr. Roy Wahle’s heart. He would still like to teach.

“I would do it again,” he said. “Education is most important to civilization and society.”