Memorial service for Patton College professor is Sept. 13

Photo courtesy of: Patton College of EducationDr. Milton Ploghoft

A memorial service will be held for Dr. Milton Ploghoft, Sr., on Sept. 13 in Galbreath Chapel from 5-7 p.m.

Ploghoft, Faculty Emeriti of The Patton College where he served as a professor for approximately 40 years, founded the African Educational Research Network (AERN) and gave philanthropically to support its mission. He passed away April 3 at the age of 94.

“Milton promoted diversity at every turn in his life and helped countless people all over the world,” said Renée A. Middleton, dean of The Patton College. “Those of us who knew him will carry his impact in our hearts and feel his loss.”

The Patton College chose to hold Ploghoft’s memorial service this fall to ensure that friends and colleagues could make appropriate travel plans and attend. The service will honor Ploghoft’s life and legacy and will be live-streamed on YouTube.

A former professor of Curriculum and Instruction in Teacher Education, Ploghoft served Ohio University faithfully throughout his career. OHIO hired him in 1957 to serve as principal of Putnam School and again in 1963 to develop a college for teachers as part of a United States Agency for International Development (USAID) project in Kano, Nigeria. The college began with roughly 200 students but grew to more than 5,000 by 1999 when Ploghoft made his final visit to Kano.

Ploghoft also served as the College’s director of the Center for International Programs, making several visits to Vietnam to develop and sustain ongoing programs. He remained active in retirement, consulting with universities in Botswana, Swaziland, and Namibia.

AERN Chair Dr. Emmanuel Jean Francois honored Ploghoft at the 2018 AERN bi-annual Summer Summit in Ghana in June.

Ploghoft’s life began a long way from Africa. Born on an Iowa farm in 1923, he received a bachelor’s degree from Northwest Missouri State Teachers College, a master’s degree from Drake University, and a doctorate from the University of Nebraska. He and his wife, Zella, created the Ploghoft Diversity Lecture Series at Northwest Missouri State University. He also founded the Unitarian Fellowship in Athens and was a loyal members of The Kiwanis Club.

Ploghoft had four children, six grandchildren, and seven great-grandchildren.

“His life was well-lived,” said Middleton. “He will be greatly missed.”