Tower-Fall-2020

20 TOWER | FALL 2020 Robert P. Grim, Esq., may not have a degree from Kutztown University, but there is no question that it’s his home – quite literally. Grim grew up at 15195 Kutztown Road – now called Maple Manor, which houses the KU Foundation’s Business Office and the Kutztown Folk Festival. he Grim family legacy goes back to the 1880s, “the dawn of Kutztown University,” as Grim says. Grim’s great-grandfather, Dr. George Washington Grim, had nine children, all of whom attended the Keystone State Normal School (which would become Kutztown State Teachers College in 1928). Of those nine children, three became doctors, two became lawyers and four became teachers. The youngest, James S. Grim, graduated from the Normal School in 1893 and went on to study at Lafayette College, Cornell University, the University of Pennsylvania and Kansas City University, where he received his Ph.D. James Grim returned to Pennsylvania and to the Normal School to teach, where he remained for 43 years. In 1924, he and his wife, Nettie, purchased the home on Kutztown Road from the Rev. Dr. W. Dietrick, another important name in science from the Normal School (and a sought-after photographer whose pictures of campus remain on display today). James’ dedication to his job was extraordinary. In the 1930s, when the Kutztown State Teachers College was having financial difficulties, he took it upon himself to fundraise from the town’s residents – something unheard of for most professors. His 1916 textbook “Elementary Agriculture” was used at many colleges and universities in the United States. Because of his inspirational teaching and his ground-breaking botanical research, the Grim Science Building on Kutztown’s campus was named in his honor. James and his wife raised their family of five children on Kutztown Road, all of whom attended the Normal School. Stewart, the oldest, became the first head of long-distance at Bell Telephone, now AT&T. The second son, J. Marshall, received his Ph.D. in chemistry in Germany, and according to family lore, he helped to invent Tide detergent. Sadly, J. Marshall died in 1953 at age 48 as a result of his research with asbestos. Daughter Margaret became a teacher, thespian and vocal soloist. Mark attended medical school and delivered hundreds of babies throughout his career. And Allan, Bob’s father, studied law at Harvard University and was appointed District Judge of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania by President Harry S. Truman in 1949. He served as president of the board of trustees of what was then Kutztown State College in the 1960s. Despite his appointment in Philadelphia, Allan never considered moving. He and his wife, Ruth, wanted to raise their family at 15195 Kutztown Road. In 1953, Allan ruled to uphold the National Football League’s blackout policy, finding that it did not violate anti-trust laws. Grim recalls the phone calls to their home from angry football fans who were unable to watch their home team on television on game day as a result of this ruling. Allan also had five children, who became a doctor, two lawyers, a psychologist and an audiologist. Although none of them attended Kutztown University, they all attended the Campus Laboratory School. “I have fond memories of growing up in the heart of KU’s campus,” says Grim. “Though I never attended as a student, it has been an important part of my life, and my entire family’s lives.” Grim is a lifetime Kutztown resident, except for his time studying history at Lafayette College and attending Villanova Law School. He began his career as an assistant public defender in Berks County and has served as a municipal solicitor in the area for more than 40 years. “I have not forgotten my roots,” he says. Grim was co-founder and a former director, solicitor and treasurer of the Kutztown University Foundation. He even volunteered to incorporate the Foundation in 1983. In July, he was named vice chair of the university’s Council of Trustees. He is an ex-officio member of the Foundation Board. “My family has long believed that education is the key to advancing our society,” he says. “I honor my relatives through my service to the university and through scholarships named for my parents, help succeeding generations of students to earn their degrees.” This fall, 15195 Kutztown Road, the former home to generations of Grims and current office space known as Maple Manor, will be renamed The Grim Family Homestead in recognition of the extraordinary family’s lasting impact on campus. “History has always been very important to me – especially my family’s history,” said Grim. “It’s fulfilling to share our story, to recognize and remember it, and to know it has made a difference to Kutztown. This university has done so much for so many, and I am proud and grateful to be part of that legacy.” 140 YEARS OF CONNECTION TO Four Generations of the Grim Family Live and Learn in Kutztown BY JILLIAN LOVEJOY