LeVon “Lee” Balzer, Tabor College’s 10th president, died Sunday, May 11, in Tulsa, Oklahoma. His memorial service will be held May 31, in the Cathedral of the Ozarks at John Brown University.
Balzer was a visionary leader and lifelong educator, whose career spanned 44 years, including his time as Tabor president, 1988 to 1994.
“Dr. Balzer combined warmth and approachability with professionalism and class,” says Tabor President David Janzen. “He was distinguished, but not aloof. He led the campus by example, valuing and embodying rigorous academics with an authentic love for Jesus and love of people. As students, we knew we would be held to high standards and loved through our challenges.”
Balzer’s ties to Tabor predate his presidency. His mother, Helen (Hamm) Balzer, graduated in 1926, and his brother, Robert Balzer, was a freshman in 1947. Balzer grew up within five miles of Larry Nikkel, the 12th president.
Balzer’s career in education took him and his wife, Alice (Zielke), to three different states before coming to Hillsboro as Tabor’s president in 1988. Before coming to Tabor, Balzer served 13 years at Seattle Pacific University in Seattle, Washington. He held numerous educational and administrative roles in the sciences, including professor of biology, education coordinator of environmental education, dean of instruction and dean of arts and sciences.
“His time in Seattle gave him a tremendous boost for the rest of his professional career,” Nikkel says. “He ushered in a new perspective of higher education at Tabor, and his expertise greatly benefited the college during and after his presidency.”
Balzer’s drive to the classroom included a new honors program, work in psychology, communication, history and athletic training and an increased focus on spiritual distinctives. He oversaw the start of musical groups such as Harvest Crew, a sports ministry team, a testimony team and a service workday in Wichita for new Tabor students.
“Lee brought a love for academics with him to his presidency,” says H. David Brandt, Tabor president from 1995 to 1998. “It showed in the planning efforts that he did, but also in his relationship with faculty and with students.”
The Wohlgemuth Music Education Center (1989) and Campus Recreation Center (1992) were built and funded during Balzer’s presidency. Jefferson Street, which once ran north and south through campus in front of the library and what is now Kliewer Plaza, was closed during his presidency, and the college’s landscaping was given high priority. Tabor began fundraising for the Solomon L. Loewen Natural Science Center under his leadership, and it was completed in 1998.
“Lee and Alice were so hospitable when I was invited to return to Tabor’s campus as a Bible conference speaker during his presidency,” says former Tabor president Vernon Janzen (1980-87). “I saw how well Tabor continued under his gifted and God-given leadership.”
The Balzers helped the goal of enabling young people at Tabor “to achieve their highest potential as developing leaders who love God and want to serve people.”
Current President Janzen speaks of the Balzers’ personal touch to leadership. Janzen, a student during Balzer’s presidency, fondly recalls how Balzer talked about his science background and career aspirations with him.
“He took the time to speak with me in a way that inspired me to imagine what I might do someday,” Janzen says. He recalls the lighter moments, like when Balzer let students take their residence hall picture with his “pretty sweet white BMW” on the campus lawn.
Tabor College President Emeritus Jules Glanzer (2008-2021) says, “Lee helped me understand the role of the president in the institution. He was a person who was thoughtful, dignified, focused, and (who) understood academics and the role of a college president.”
After his tenure at Tabor, Balzer spent 10 years as president at John Brown University in Siloam Springs, Arkansas. During Balzer’s decade at JBU, the board, faculty, staff and donors developed a campus master plan, funded and built several facilities, remodeled and upgraded other facilities, initiated graduate degrees, expanded the degree completion program and refined on-campus programs to new levels of excellence.
Lee and Alice were married for more than 50 years, and their family includes two children, son Cary and wife, Tracy, and daughter, Tanya and husband Todd Reichert, and four grandchildren, Langley Balzer, Kelsey and Jordan Howard, Brandon Reichert and Madison Reichert.
Balzer earned his bachelor of science in education and a minor in biology from the University of Oklahoma in 1957. He earned his M.N.S. in biology, history and philosophy of science in Norman, Oklahoma, in 1960. He completed his doctorate in biology and science education at Ohio State University.
With files from John Brown University
Tabor College is the Mennonite Brethren college located in Hillsboro, Kansas. The mission of Tabor College, founded in 1908, is to prepare people for a life of learning, work and service for Christ and his kingdom.
