Murrow school professor emeritus Limburg dies

Val E. Limburg, professor emeritus in Washington State University’s Edward R. Murrow School of Communication, died Tuesday in Pullman. He was 67.

During his 35-year teaching career at WSU, Limburg taught a wide range of broadcast courses and was instrumental in developing the school’s focus on ethics. His book “Electronic Media Ethics” was published in 1994 and was
translated into Italian in 1996. Shortly after his retirement in 2002, Limburg was given an award in Special Recognition for Distinguished Contributions to Teaching and the Practice of Ethics at WSU by the university’s Ethics Interest Group.

“Val was not only a great faculty member, but a great person. In many ways he helped instill the moral legacy (at the Murrow school),” said Alexis Tan, director of the school.

“Val was the embodiment of what we aspire to be – as educators, as human beings, as professionals, as mentors – and we’re all going to have to shine a little brighter in his absence,” said Susan Ross, associate professor in the Murrow school and associate dean for the College of Liberal Arts.

The ethics award was only one of many earned by Limburg in his illustrious career. He was named “State Broadcaster of the Year” by the Washington State Association of Broadcasters in 1997 and was recognized for lifetime achievement with the Silver Circle Award from the Seattle Chapter of the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences, also in 1997.

A native of Ogden, Utah, Limburg began his collegiate career at Weber State University. In an article written about Limburg in the 1991 Chinook, he said he was interested in drama and debate at Weber State and had planned to attend law school. But after transferring to Brigham Young University, he changed his academic focus to communications and broadcasting.

He earned a bachelor’s and master’s degree from BYU. He then attended the University of Illinois where he earned a doctoral degree.

Limburg came to WSU as an assistant professor in communications in 1967. In an article in WSU Today, Limburg traced the development of his classroom style back to the mid-1970s. At that time his department, especially the introductory course (Com 101), was growing rapidly.

Limburg recalled, “Some faculty members tried a low-key lecture approach, but it didn’t work at all. I was asked to give it a try and soon found that, in order to keep the attention of what had grown to be over 500 students in Bryan Auditorium, I needed some techniques so that the information penetrated the brain pan.

“I used all the tricks of public speaking: I spoke loudly and with great enthusiasm. I would sometimes gesticulate wildly. I used frames of reference with which I knew the students were familiar… to help the students become media literate. Eventually I incorporated audio and video tapes, slides and other demonstrations into the lectures.”

During his career at WSU, along with teaching thousands of communication students in broadcasting, media law and ethics, Limburg served on a long list of academic committees. He chaired the Faculty Senate from 1996-97. He
frequently gave presentations on ethical and journalistic issues to academic groups and service organizations.

Limburg was secretary/treasurer of the Washington State Association of Broadcasters for more than two decades; chaired the History Division of the Broadcast Education Association from 1993-94; and regularly served as a judge for competitions sponsored by the Broadcast Education Association and the Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communications.

He also gave countless hours of community service in Pullman Kiwanis and as chaplain for Pullman Regional Hospital.

In what might be seen as a fitting conclusion to a career that reflected the journalistic ideals of the namesake of the Murrow School of Communcation, Limburg wrote the article “Where Have You Gone, Edward R. Murrow” in the Fall 2005 issue of Washington State Magazine. It can be read online at http://washington-state-magazine.wsu.edu/.

Limburg is survived by his wife Janet of 44 years, son Blake (and Judy) Limburg of Walla Walla; daughters Lonna (and Brian) Heuett of Cedar City, Utah; Alisa (and Marc) Skinner of Moscow, Idaho; and Krista (and Andy) Farrington of Pullman; and son, Eric (and Tara) of Pullman; 18 grandchildren; a brother Greg Limburg; and sisters Lois Crowell and Debbie Paskett.

The funeral will take place at 11 a.m. Friday (Oct. 14) at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, 1055 N.E. Orchard Dr., Pullman.

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