Page 39 - Senior Link Magazine Fall 2018- Online Magazine
P. 39
at a place called Texas Tech learner!’” The
University in Lubbock, Texas. one-year term
Surprisingly, he accepted the job in 1971 turned wwii
sight unseen after he was offered into twenty-
the position of a Lecturer. When two years, and
he called his wife upon arrival, he retired from
she asked, “Are there any trees?” full-time teaching
It became a family joke for many in 1993. He continued teaching a
years. class for four more years and worked
two more years helping to design an
Marvin finally got his PhD at architectural, educational course for
age 49 in the spring of 1977. elementary school. After 41 years of
He said that he was “brought teaching, Dr. Platten noted that he still
Marvin went on the 2017 Texas back to earth when his 9-year- “missed teaching dearly and the joy I
South Plains Honor Flight with old niece exclaimed to her was deriving from my interaction with
mother, ‘He must be a very slow
his son Steven as his guardian students.”
and helped lay a wreath at the Marvin had discovered
WWII Memorial. early on that he did have
something. It was not only
the ability to draw but
all over that country visiting various also to teach others the
facilities and art departments. value of art, to overcome
obstacles, to give his family
After three years in Japan, Marvin the priceless gift of living
decided it was “about time to return abroad, and to serve his
to the states”. He wanted to teach country first as a young
at a university but did not have his man and later for the
doctorate, so he didn’t think he had a Department of Defense - an
chance. He learned about an opening artful journey.
Lubbock Senior Link 39
