William E. Briggs, who taught mathematics at the University of Colorado at Boulder both before and after he served 16 years as dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, died Jan. 4 following a long illness. He was 73.
Briggs became dean of arts and sciences on July 1, 1964, after serving one year as the acting dean, and held that position until he retired in 1980, at which time he received a medal for outstanding service.
After stepping down as an administrator, he resumed teaching mathematics until May of 1988, when he retired formally and was awarded the rank of professor emeritus. He had been associated with the university as a student and teacher since 1948, except for a single year when he taught at Baseline High School in Boulder.
He is survived by his wife, Muriel, and their children, William L., Roger P., Barbara Ellen Johnson and Lindsey Ann Hall; a sister, Mary Jo Weins; and eight grandchildren. A memorial service is planned on Sunday, Jan. 10, at 3 p.m. at the First Congregational Church in Boulder. The family requested that memorial gifts be directed to the CU Cancer Research Foundation or the William E. Briggs Scholarship Fund at Morningside College in Iowa.
Briggs, a native of Sioux City, Iowa, held a bachelor聮s degree from Morningside College in that city, and master聮s and doctoral degrees from CU-Boulder, receiving his Ph.D. in mathematics in 1953. He was awarded an honorary doctor of science degree in 1968 from Morningside College.
He also taught at the Consolidated High School in Elwood, Iowa, began his CU teaching career in 1955, and in 1961-62, studied at University College in London under a National Science Foundation Faculty Fellowship
Briggs was director of CU聮s Academic Year Institute for secondary school teachers of science and mathematics from 1957 to 1960, and directed an In-Service Institute for Secondary School Teachers of Mathematics from 1959 to 1961 and again during the 1963-64 academic year. He was acting chairman of the mathematics department in 1959-60.
A member of the School Mathematics Study Group, Briggs was part of the analytic geometry textbook-writing team at Stanford University in 1963. He authored 15 research papers in the field of analytic number theory, and was published in leading mathematical journals. He was chairman of the Colorado State Department of Education mathematics advisory committee from 1964-66.
From 1966-80, Briggs was a member of the board of directors of Educational Projects, Inc., in Pittsburgh, Pa., and during the fall semester of 1980, served as academic dean for Semester at Sea on an around-the-world voyage.
A member of the American Mathematical Association, Briggs was a governor of the Rocky Mountain Region from 1963 to 1966. He was also a member of Sigma Xi, the London Mathematical Society, and served as president of the Council of Colleges of Arts and Sciences. He was a member of the Commission on Arts and Sciences, the National Association of State Universities and Land Grant Colleges, and the American Association of University Professors. Briggs was listed in "American Men of Science," "Who聮s Who in the West," "Who聮s Who in Education," and "Who聮s Who in America."