Ross T. Rowe, Former Rigby School Head Dies at Boise Home

Ross T. Rowe, 66, former Superintendent of Rigby Schools, died suddenly Thursday in Boise of a heart attack at his home. Mr. Rowe was counseling psychologist for the Veterans' Administration in Boise since leaving Rigby.
He was born January 16, 1894 at Spanish Fork, Utah. A veteran of World War I, he completed his college and university training at U.A.C., Logan and the University of Idaho after returning from the war. He married Hazel Webb on August 23, 1917 in Salt Lake City. He taught school at various places and came to Rigby from Arco, and was head of the Rigby Schools for eight years.
Mr. Rowe also instituted an adult education session here for several years, bringing in authorities on business, farming and cultural programs. He was an energetic civic worker, and as principal of the high school brought about unity between the community and the schools through his ability in public relations. His time was often in demand as a speaker, yet he had time to affiliate himself with church groups, as a teacher and leader. The hundreds of students who came under his guidance were taught the value of American citizenship and urged to build character up on honesty and integrity.
In the 1941 Rigby High School Yearbook, "The Rodeo" when many students had entered the armed forces, Mr. Rowe wrote: "Democracy can function and be practical only if most of the people are capable of intelligent behavior and if they think as much of their fellowmen as they do themselves. Democracy cannot be perpetuated by stupidity. This is where the American schools play a front-line part in behalf of Democracy. Our high schools should be devoted to the ideal of the promotion of the general welfare of all; for this is central in the democratic way of life. We must achieve our democracy; we cannot take if for granted. This means we must defend it against all aggression. It is my hope that the students of Rigby High School will always devote the best that is in them in perpetuation of the great American way of life." ---This summarized the hopes and aspirations of Mr. Rowe as a teacher and guidance director, as the cornerstone in character building.
His immediate survivors are his widow, Hazel, two sons, R.L. Rowe, Boise and Howard Rowe, Klamath Falls, Oregon, several grandchildren; a sister, Mrs. Vern Thomas, Richfield, Idaho, and a brother, Louis E. Rowe, Las Vegas, Nevada. A son preceded him in death.
Funeral services were held Monday from the Summer Mortuary at Boise and interment was in Cloverdale Memorial Park, Boise.
Source: Rigby Star, 31 Mar 1960, pg 1/picture