Kiser Natural Outdoor Learning Lab, a tribute to Rufus Kiser
Posted: 6/9/2010
 For 32 years Rufus Kiser served as a pre-eminent physical science instructor at Centralia College. His great passion for the flora of the region was evident in his teaching. He gave the college’s forestry program its credibility and reputation for excellence, training hundreds of men and women who went into the forestry profession.
His legacy will be formally marked with the relocation and expansion of the Kiser Natural Outdoor Learning Lab (KNOLL). The outdoor open lab is targeted to eventually cover the entire block west of Washington Avenue between Walnut Street and Centralia College Blvd.
The foundation is seeking to raise $500,000 for the KNOLL project, which will be created over a span of several years. All but two structures (those buildings are owned by the college and will be removed from the KNOLL site) have been removed from the southern half of the block, which is bisected by China Creek. The creek will be incorporated into the KNOLL design.
“Members of our science faculty will be selecting appropriate vegetation for the KNOLL. What goes into it will serve as a representation of different regions and climates of the state of Washington,” said Dr. Jim Walton, college president. The college has retained flora from the original Kiser Garden, which was located on campus where the Science Center is now located.
“The KNOLL will be a scientific learning lab for students and will also serve as a garden for visitors who might want to stroll through,” Walton added.
The foundation’s KNOLL campaign will help the college with the design and engineering of the site, the landscaping and the purchasing of appropriate vegetation.
Kiser, who started teaching at Centralia College in 1941, was a leader in the region’s scouting organization. The scouting organization must have made a great impression on him as he served in and for the Boy Scouts of America for 75 years.
Kiser taught botany, biology, forestry and zoology at Centralia College for 32 years. He started researching the plant species on Seminary hill in the mid-1930s and continued until his death in 1995. Kiser is credited with discovering during his research that 80 percent of plant species native to Washington state thrive on the hill. This discovery led to the hill becoming a protected natural area.
In addition to teaching, scouting and his love of the outdoors, Kiser was an avid runner and attained status as a world-class long distance runner. Rufus was a two time “All-American” and five time state champion. As a high school student, he set state records in the mile and 880 yard runs, breaking marks he had previously established. At the 1925 National Interscholastic Track Meet in Chicago, Rufus won the mile and finished third in the 880.
He returned the following year to win both events and claim U.S. championships. He went on to an outstanding collegiate track career at the University of Washington. Rufus’ accomplishments included the 1928 and 1930 NCAA mile national titles, a second place finish in that event in 1929, and the 1929 and ‘30 National AAU championships. He was a member of the winning four mile relay team at the 1930 United States vs. British Empire Games.
|