Casper College remembers former CC President Lloyd Loftin
(Casper College Photo)
Lloyd H. Loftin, Ed.D. had big shoes to fill when he replaced Tilghman (Tim) H. Aley as president of Casper College. But Loftin, who had served under Aley for 16 years, was more than up to the task. He had seen the successes and the disappointments that Aley had had during his 18 years at the helm. While he learned from Aley, he also learned much from serving in other college capacities, beginning as an instructor. Loftin died at 94 on Sept. 27, 2023, just three days shy of his 95th.
Loftin came to Casper College in 1963. Before he was appointed president, out of a field of 200 applicants, he taught microbiology and zoology classes. From teaching, Loftin moved to the administrative side as dean of students, dean of faculty, and vice president for academic affairs.
From 1979 to 1988, Loftin served as Casper College president. Loftin’s enduring legacy is the high-quality faculty and staff that came to the college as a direct result of his work in that area.
Loftin’s career at Casper College is best summed up by Kevin Anderson, former Casper College Western History Center director, who wrote in his book “Spirit of the Thunderbird,”
“ … (Loftin’s) positive influence (on) his students and his great love of the academic arena, though, will be considered by many to be his lasting legacy. The recruitment and training of a strong faculty were his strong suits, too. It is important to remember this: he was not only president of Casper College but a teacher as well.”
Shortly before he retired, Casper Star-Tribune staff writer Dan Whipple interviewed Loftin. Whipple wrote, “Casper College President Lloyd Loftin, who retires this week … says one of his major achievements during his nine-year tenure was ‘the development of quality faculty and staff.’”
In addition to the quality faculty and staff, Loftin oversaw the construction of new facilities on the college’s campus. Almost one-third of the buildings on campus at the time of his retirement were built during his nine-year presidency. Loftin considered the construction of the Gertrude Krampert Theatre as an important accomplishment. “The theater will always be a jewel,” he told Whipple.
Loftin received his bachelor’s degree in botany from Eastern Illinois State Teachers College, now Eastern Illinois University, and his master’s of education in school administration and doctorate of education from Oklahoma Agricultural and Mechanical College, now Oklahoma State University–Stillwater. Following graduation, he taught for seven years in Ponca City, Oklahoma. In 1963, he signed a contract to teach at Casper College. After 25 years of service to Casper College and the community, Loftin retired on May 31, 1988.
Loftin’s funeral service will occur on Tuesday, Oct. 3 at 11 a.m. at First United Methodist Church in Casper, with interment at Willow Grove Cemetery in Buffalo, Wyoming.