Growing up in tiny Henrieville, Utah, population 160, Max
Rose was fully immersed in education, as his father taught the town’s children,
including Max and his 13 siblings, in a one-room schoolhouse.
Thus, it was not surprising that education became his own life’s
work, as upon his graduation from Bryce Valley High School in 1963, Max
enrolled at the College of Southern Utah, just as would a dozen of the Rose
children. Max had excelled in mathematics—always in advanced courses—and he yearned
to educate others. He determined to teach math at the college level and wished
to return to teach at what is now SUU.
Max was an ardent student, greatly involved and a leader in
the full spectrum of campus life and activities. He learned at the feet of a galaxy
of revered SUU faculty members. In fact, he says, he liked his teachers so much
that whatever course he took from them, he thought he might change his major to
any one of those disciplines. Such SUU legends as Bessie Dover, Kim Jones and
Paul Burgoyne were among his mentors, but it was Harl Judd who exercised
particular influence over Max.
Following his graduation in 1969, Max married schoolmate Kathryn
Duncan and the couple moved to Los Alamos, New Mexico, where Max would teach
math. However, a sudden opening on the SUU faculty prompted Professor Judd to
summon Max home on a one-year contract to teach at his alma mater. Afterward,
Harl promised him that if he would go on to earn an advanced degree, that he’d
be first on the list for any new position. Max took his master’s degree from
USU and a doctorate from BYU and accepted what he thought would be an
abbreviated position at Dixie College while awaiting an opening at SUU.
However, through his hard work and talent, he soon became entrenched at Dixie
and in St. George and somewhat reluctantly gave up his long-held dream of
teaching here.
He went on to a stellar career at the St. George school,
including tenure as a professor of math and chemistry and as vice president of
academics. He capped his career with a decade’s service as the superintendent
of the Washington County School District. Along the way, he served in a great
variety of impactful civic positions, including a stint as the chair of the
Dixie Regional Medical Center Governing Board. Today, he sits on the Dixie
Board of Trustees and he and Kathy enjoy their four children and four
grandchildren.
Through most of his years at Dixie, Max always sought to
guide students to SUU to complete their education as, he has said, Dixie
students tended to fit in well here. His own SUU experiences are treasured and
he readily confirms that his years in Cedar City were truly important in
shaping his life. He has, despite his ties elsewhere, always been a proud and
exemplary son of Southern Utah University.
