Willard R. Rhine, Ph.D.

Geneva P. and Leonard Rhine, parents of Ray and Wanda, were lifelong residents of Murphysboro, IL. Geneva stopped her schooling after the eighth grade. As the oldest, Ray’s sister Wanda was a few years younger than him. Ray’s mother was determined that he get an education beyond what she had. Since they lived in a remote rural area, her first objective was to find housing much closer to the one-room school house where he attended. Ray’s father knew the importance of this goal, so he had no peace until he found the family a home close to the school. Ray’s days were filled with his mother teaching him new words, which became his life. Living close to the school, his mother and teacher devised a plan for him to read every day until he missed a word. His mother taught him early on the value of reading.

Ray’s father never tipped the scales past 140 pounds, but he was a strong, sturdy man who worked on roads, bridges, buildings and various other projects. His father taught him his trade, but mostly he provided for the family. When Ray was not reading, his father would take him hunting and taught him how to use a firearm. His father was passionate about the garden he maintained and spent hours there; he was generous and often shared goods with the neighbors.

Ray’s sister Wanda completed her Bachelor of Science degree at Greenville College in Greenville, Illinois. She enrolled at the University of Missouri St. Louis, where she earned her Master of Science in Behavioral Studies. She became the Director of Policies, Personnel and Procedures at City Hospital in Vandalia, IL. In her role, she was invited to serve on a statewide committee to review and recommend materials. The committee was chaired by Senator Paul Simon, D-IL. Wanda worked for many years attending meetings with Senator Simon, establishing and promoting the work of the committee.

Ray enrolled in the one-room school house when he was four years old, just shy of his fifth birthday. By the time he was six, he had completed all the readings at the school. The family moved when he was six to Granite City, Illinois. His mother took him to his new school and enrolled him in the 4th grade, after a compromise that it would be on a trial basis. He handled the reading requirements easily but needed tutoring in math. He thrived in school and the family eventually moved back to Southern Illinois where he enrolled in the ninth grade.

Ray graduated high school and enrolled at Southern Illinois University when he was 16 years old. He majored in History, earning mostly “A’s” on his work. He attended SIU for two years and then spent a year at Greenville College. He returned to SIU for his final year and graduated with his Bachelor of Arts in 1954. He enrolled in the graduate program for History, earning a Master of Arts in 1957 (with a 3.95 GPA) and then enrolled in the Rehabilitation Counseling program in Psychology, earning a Master of Science degree in 1960, both at SIU. He worked as a school psychologist for five years before enrolling in the PhD program at The University of Texas, Austin. He stayed on the faculty for one year at UT Austin. He did his post doctorate work at Stanford where he spent an additional four years working at the Stanford Research Institute before returning to Missouri where he became a Professor at the University of Missouri St. Louis. Ray’s career highlight was being honored as a Senior Fulbright Scholar to Denmark for the academic year 1993-94.

Ray was fortunate enough to have invested well early in his career, which has enabled him to establish this scholarship to honor his family. The hard work every day just to live taught him many life lessons. His father spent countless hours at his job only to come home and work more just to put food on the table. His mother always wanted more for her children. Ray learned later in life that his mother’s goal for him was to just finish high school. This scholarship is Ray’s way of paying her back.