Professor Emeritus
Ray O. Werner

These high words of praise came from Dr. Lloyd E. Worner. In 1978, President Worner appointed the nationally recognized economist as the David and Lucile Packard Professor in recognition of Werner’s “gifted teaching, important scholarship, and professional contribution.”  

An innovator, Werner developed courses in Government and Business, the Economic Novel, and Business and Society. Along with Professors Doug Mertz and Fred Sondermann, he also started the interdisciplinary major in Political Economy. 

At CC since 1948, he is widely known for his writings on legal aspects of marketing, having served as the Editor of Legal Developments in Marketing of the Journal of Marketing for over 20 years. 

His work in the classroom earned him numerous awards and grants. Glenn Brooks, then dean of Colorado College, noted that Werner “devotes unusual effort to ensuring the quality of the students’ classroom learning. He possesses high scholarly standards for both the rigor and currency of course content and for the level of student performance.” 

Former students agree. Economics alumni surely recall Professor Werner’s panel discussion examinations. Rather than writing essays, small groups of his students sat around a long table, piles of reference books, notebooks, and course outlines before them. For two hours, students discussed a single topic before a microphone placed at the center of the table. Professor Werner, who taped the discussion, graded the students on their understanding of the topic, and their ability to articulate. Students gained experience, developed self confidence, and were able — in the words of Professor Werner — “to see that learning doesn’t always need a professor.” 

Werner is the recipient of the Sidney G. Winter Award as outstanding teacher of economics and business administration at the college in 1967, and held the Louis T. Benezet Faculty Rotating Fellowship at the college, 1965-66.  He also received the first Burlington Northern Award for teaching excellence in 1985. 

Ray Werner understands that education happens in all phases of a student’s life.  As dedicated as he was in the classroom, he was equally dedicated in support of student activities outside of the classroom.  Ray served as debate coach, was co-founder with Juan Reid and Lew Worner of Blue Key, and was an avid supporter of athletics. 

Ray was faculty representative to the Rocky Mountain Conference for as long as CC played in that conference.  He served on the faculty Athletic Board for several years before becoming its chair for an additional 25 years.  He headed the faculty-student committee charged with planning the El Pomar Sports center.  During that same 25 year span, he also represented the faculty on the Western Collegiate Athletic Association.    A founder of the WCHA, Ray was honored by his selection as a charter member of that group’s Hall of Fame and received its Distinguished Service Award in 1986.  Ray could also be seen behind the timer’s table at all CC basketball and football games.  

In the community, Werner served as president of the Pikes Peak Region United Way and was active with the boards of the Goodwill Industries, the local Utilities Financial Advisory group, three local banks and served as president of Colorado Springs Chamber of Commerce and deacon of his church.  Two of the Werner children are CC graduates, with Craig, class of ’74 receiving an honorary doctorate from CC just this fall.   

The complete student nurtures both mind and body.  The good citizen contributes to the community.  The fortunate CC students from 1948 through 1985 had Ray Werner to support and encourage them in all those ways.