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President George H. Emert papers, 1970-2000

Overview of the Collection

Creator
Emert, George H.
Title
President George H. Emert papers
Dates
1970-2000 (inclusive)
Quantity
113.75 linear feet, (233 boxes)
Collection Number
UUS_3.1/13
Summary
The President George H. Emert papers document his time as Utah State University's 13th president from 1992 through 2000 and include materials related to USU's financial, technological, and campus development.
Repository
Utah State University, Merrill-Cazier Library, Special Collections and Archives Division
Special Collections & Archives
Merrill-Cazier Library
Utah State University
Logan, UT
84322-3000
Telephone: 4357978248
Fax: 4357972880
scweb@usu.edu
Access Restrictions

Access to some files is restricted due to GRAMA and FERPA laws. Not available through interlibrary loan.

Languages
English
Sponsor
Original Processing project was sponsored by Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA) grant, 2007-2008
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Biographical Note

Early Life

George H. Emert was born on December 15, 1938, to his parents Victor K. Emert and Hazel Emert Ridley in Sevier County, Tennessee. Emert developed a love for teaching while attending both elementary and high school in a one-room schoolhouse and later he attended Lincoln Memorial University (LMU) from 1956 to 1958. He intended to take his passion for teaching to New Orleans, but boarded the wrong train and ended up in Denver, Colorado, where he stayed for 20 years.

Education and Military Service

While in Denver, Emert earned a bachelor's degree in Zoology, Chemistry, and Mathematics, a master's degree in Zoology, and completed his post-doctoral fellowship all from the University of Colorado (CU) between 1962 and 1974. He obtained his Ph.D. in Biochemistry and Nutrition from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (Virginia Tech) in 1973.

From 1963 to 1966, Emert served two tours in Vietnam as a member of the U.S. Army Special Forces and was awarded the Air Medal and a Bronze Star. After completing his Ph.D., he served as a biological warfare expert and later on in life became a member of the Navy ROTC. While on furlough in Okinawa, Japan, between Vietnam tours, Emert met Billie Bush on a blind date. Following Billie's graduation from the University of Wyoming, they were married on June 10, 1967. The two later went on to have four daughters.

Professional Life

Before beginning his teaching career, Emert's doctoral research led him to be the director of biochemical technology for the Gulf Oil Corporation in the early to mid-1970s. He returned to teaching first as adjunct assistant professor of microbiology at the University of Kansas, and later in 1979, he joined the University of Arkansas (UARK) faculty as a Professor of Biochemistry and Director of the Biomass Research Center. In 1984, when his mentor, UARK President Jim E. Martin, accepted the position as President of Auburn University (AU), Emert followed and served as Martin's executive vice president until 1992.

President of Utah State University

On July 1, 1992, Emert became Utah State University's (USU) 13th president and oversaw increases in enrollment, scholarships, endowments, contracts, grants, and campus development. During Emert's presidency, USU saw the completion of the Old Main building renovation and Stan Laub Indoor Training Center construction, the creation of American West Heritage Center, helped begin renovations to Romney Stadium, and other campus improvements like pedestrian tunnels. He also procured additional resources for USU's intercollegiate athletics through lobbying the Utah State Legislature. Additionally, he established Alumni Association in all 29 Utah counties, five additional western states, and four foreign countries.

Emert resigned in January 2001, but returned around 2002 as a professor and advisor for the College of Science. He left Cache Valley about a year later in 2003.

Later Life and Death

Emert and Billie eventually moved to Skagit County, Washington, where he spent the end of his life enjoying time with his grandchildren, friends, church, and playing music. Emert passed on March 21, 2018.

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Content Description

The President George H. Emert papers document his time as Utah State University's 13th president from 1992 through 2000. Known for overseeing significant financial and campus development, this collection includes a variety of reports and office files. A majority of this collection is presidential correspondence with internal and external entities, international relations, and state and federal agencies and personnel.

Taking place during the widespread adoption of the internet, this collection highlights aspects of USU's technological adaptation and development, including the beginning of increased online degree programs. Additionally, this collection includes materials related to the completion of Old Main's renovation project, which started in 1983 after a fire destroyed parts of the building. Other notable aspects of this collection include the expansion of the USU athletic program and facilities, and a variety of campus building projects.

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Use of the Collection

Restrictions on Use

Insert the following note, while making changes to the collection title and curator:

It is the responsibility of the researcher to obtain any necessary copyright clearances.

Permission to publish material from the President George H. Emert papers must be obtained from the University Archivist and/or the Special Collections Department Head.

Preferred Citation

Initial Citation: President George H. Emert papers USU_3.1/13. Special Collections and Archives. Utah State University Merrill-Cazier Library. Logan, Utah.

Following Citations:USU_3.1/13.

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Administrative Information

Arrangement

The arrangement of this collection reflects an intellectual order of Emert's activities as President. The physical order and numbering of items are second to the intellectual ordering of this collection.

This collection is arranged Alphabetically and chronologically into six main series with a variety of sub-series.

Series I. Alphabetical and Chronological Correspondence

Series II. Office of the President: includes sub-series for Associated Students of USU (ASUSU), reports and assorted files, and the Board of Trustees.

Series III. Administrative and Support Services: includes sub-series for Athletics, Extension Services, and Physical Plant

Series IV. Academic Departments: this series is divided by colleges and is reflective of the originally order and placement of programs and departments at the time of the collection's creation. See series and sub-series for included colleges.

Series V. Government Agencies: divided into three sub-series for Federal, State of Utah, and Board of Regents

Series VI. Personal Files

Acquisition Information

Originally filed in the President's Office and later accessioned into University Archives starting in 1999.

Processing Note

In 2025, as part of the University Archives remediation project, USU presidential papers received secondary processing that is reflected in the current version of the finding aid. The original filing order is still retained through the physical arrangement of this collection but comes second to the intellectual order implemented during secondary processing. Series and sub-series were used to retain the old filing order and were based off the original processing arrangement of Federal Agencies, State Agencies, Board of Trustees, Board of Regents, Administration, University Departments, Colleges and Departments, Associated Students, and Alphabetical Correspondence. Files remain chronologically alphabetized within their series.

The President George H. Emert papers were originally processed in 2001 and later an addendum in 2007. The original register was arranged chronologically and alphabetically, with each year following roughly the same order: state and federal agencies, institutional council, central administration, university departments (centrally administered), colleges and departments, and an alphabetical file, consisting of various university programs and correspondence from outside the university community.

Related Materials

Award Photos with George Emert, UUS_P0481

Related Materials

George H. Emert,UUS_P0227

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Detailed Description of the Collection

Finding aid written by Abbie Chesley, Mara Kenison, and Kelly Rovegno
2025

CC Attribution
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

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