Avis Sebaly

SEBALY, A. L. Age 95 A. L. Sebaly, Educator and Community Leader, Dies at 95. Avis. L. (Mike) Sebaly, nationally recognized educator, died in his home at Friendship Village in Kalamazoo, Thursday, March 11. A professor of education at WMU, 1945-85, Dr. Sebaly was widely known throughout Michigan for his efforts to improve teacher standards and professional development. As president of the Michigan Association of Teacher Educators, he drafted and guided the implementation of the State's first Professional Standards Act (1961). He served as National Coordinator of the Teacher Education and Religion Project of the American Association of Colleges for Teacher Education (1956-59). "Teacher Education and Religion," the book he edited from the project, was among the first scholarly works during the Cold War to address the contentious issue of teaching about different religions religions in public schools and the place of religion in the general education of teachers. He was president of the historic national Society of Professors of Education in 1974. Dr. Sebaly was born in 1914 in Reklaw, TX. After the first three grades of schooling in Cherokee County, he moved north with his family, where his father was employed in the foundry of the Ford Motor Company. His success in school and achivements as an Eagle Scout led to graduation from Highland Park High School (1929) and Highland Park Junior College in 1931. Subsequently attending Western State Teachers College on an athletic scholarship, he majored in history and was active in the International Relations and German languages clubs. He graduated with an A.B. degree in 1933, after which he was employed as a social worker by the WPA in Kalamazoo County (1933-37). While teaching social studies, English, several other subjects, and coaching at Southeastern Junior H.S. in Battle Creek (1937-43), he received his M.A. degree at the U. Michigan (1940). Service as superintendent of the Level Park school district near Battle Creek preceeded his return to Western as a faculty member in 1945. He completed his Ph.D. (1950) at the UM. His history of the transformation of normal schools to state teachers colleges and major state colleges focused on the early years of WMU's evolution remains the definitive political history of WMU's origins. His educational background provided the basis for a distinguished career as a teacher and administrator in the College of Education at WMU, and representative for the College throughout the University and teacher education circles in Michigan. In addition to chairing the Department of Directed Teaching, he served briefly as chair of the Health, Physical Education, and Recreation Departmen, Director of the University's Job Corps training program, and chair of two major national accrediation reviews. During its centennial year in 2003, WMU's Alumni Association recognized Dr. Sebaly as the University's most "popular professor of education." He is a member of the President's Circle of his alma mater. His roots in community service to Kalamazoo, planted during his employment as a social worker during the Depression, blossomed after his return to Kalamazoo in 1945. He was a member of the Presbyterian Church, where he served as Deacon (1950s). His early support for the Kalamazoo Symphony Orchestral and Civic Theatre sustained his life-long interest in creative arts and the role of the arts in community development. He served as a member of the Kalamazoo Planning Commission, 1978-84, and chaired its Community Development ad-hoc Advisory Committee. He was an active member of the Kalamazoo Rotary Club, and led its "Polio Plus" campaign (1987-90). He was awarded the Silver Torch Award in 1997 for his many contributions to the Torch Club of Kalamazoo. He was a life-time member of the National and Michigan Education Associations, the Shriners of North America, and he was a 7th degree Mason, Kalamazoo Anchor Lodge. During his residency at Friendship Village, he continued his active support for education by chairing the "Reading Together" program in conjunction with the Kalamazoo Public Library and Central High School, and the Village's employee scholarship fund. Dr. Sebaly was preceeded in death by his first wife, Beth Louise Critchett Sebaly (1914-1951), and Marcia Wynn Vincent Sebaly (1911-2001). He is surrvived by two sons, Jon M. Sebaly (Diana) of Dayton, OH, Kim P. Sebaly (Fay Ann) of Kent, OH; nine grandchildren, Tamara Brack (Clarkesville, TN), Michael Miller (Dayton, OH), Cathy Shill (Jackson Hole, WY), Michael Sebaly (Midland, MI), Patricia Sebaly (FL), Rick Sebaly (Houston, TX), Annandee Sebaly (Kennesaw, GA), Amy Rumrill (Monroe Falls, OH), Abigail Sebaly (Chicago, IL); and nine great grandchildren, Sam and Ben Miller (Dayton, OH), Anna, Michael, and Matthew Sebaly (Midland, MI), and Chad, Cassidy, and Connor Pittman (Monroe Falls, OH), and William Sebaly (Houston, TX). A service of remembrance for Dr. Sebaly will be held 2:30 PM on Saturday, May 22, 2009 at the Kiva, Friendship Village of Kalamazoo, and will be followed by burial at a later time in Oak Grove Cemetary, Manistee, MI. Please send any memorials to the Sebaly Scholarships (specify Theatre or Education), Fund Development Office, Western Michigan University, Kalamazoo, MI49008; or the Life Enhancement Department or Employee Scholasrship Fund, Friendship Village of Kalamazoo, 1400 N. Drake Road, Kalamazoo, MI 49006.