Arnold Temte

Arnold Temte arrived on campus in 1949 to join Theodore Rozelle as the only mathematics faculty members and provided courses only for a mathematics minor in education. He called himself a rural Elroy “farm boy” who received a bachelor’s degree from Luther College in 1939. He taught at Comfrey (MN) High School for three years when he was called to service with the U.S. Navy in January 1942. He served as an air navigation instructor for four years and was selected as an instructor in the Navy’s Long Range Air Navigation School, earning his wings for being the top of his class. He was released from active duty in January 1946, with the rank of lieutenant- senior grade. He felt that it was an honor to serve the United States during its time of greatest challenge. In 1946, he enrolled at the University of Minnesota where he was a teaching assistant until he received his master’s degree in 1949. He came to UWL that September.

He served as an associate professor during his 37 years at UWL and he estimated that he taught about 2.5 million student hours. He chaired the department for seven years and also as a volunteer served on the La Crosse Teachers College Foundation and helped students out financially with his involvement on the Board. During his 21 years as treasurer, the assets for scholarships tripled. The La Crosse Teachers College Foundation merged with the UWL Foundation in 1987.

Arnold Temte retired in 1986. He passed away in La Crosse on July 6, 2006.