George A. Frykman, 87, retired WSU professor of history and centennial historian for the university, died at his home in Pullman Thursday, Dec. 30.
A memorial service will be at 11 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 8, at Trinity Lutheran Church in Pullman.
As centennial historian, Frykman authored “Creating the People’s University: Washington State University, 1890-1990,” a formal institutional history. The book is one of three volumes written to commemorate the university’s first 100 years.
Frykman began teaching American history, specializing in Northwest history, at WSU in 1950. During 1961 to 1964, he was assistant to the dean of the graduate school. In 1978 he served as chairman of the University Senate. He retired in 1987. 
He earned a bachelor’s degree from California State University, San Jose, and master’s and doctorate degrees from Stanford. He served as a private and captain in the U.S. Army Air Force from 1942-46.
Frykman’s teaching and research specialties included American social and intellectual history, American historiography and Christianity in America.
