Background
Hubbard was born in Macon, Missouri. His mother taught school in Missouri"s segregated school system. His mother, however, could not get a teaching job and found employment as an elevator operator in Des Moines, Iowa.
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Philip Gamaliel Hubbard
Edit ProfileEducation
Hubbard choose to attend the over Iowa State because he could shine shoes at the Jefferson Hotel in Iowa City in order to pay his tuition, which was $50 per semester. Hubbard enrolled at the University of Iowa in 1940.
In 1943 he enlisted in the Army Reserves, and in 1944 received an Army certification in electrical engineering from Pennsylvania State University. Francis M. Dawson, Dean of the of Engineering at UI, arranged for Hubbard"s discharge in 1945 to conduct war research at UI, and he graduated with honors June 1, 1947, with a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering.
Career
In August 2012 Hubbard was inducted into the Iowa African American Hall of Fame. Iowa schools were integrated at that time. He was active in band, orchestra, chorus, biology club, freshman football, and was in the National Honor Society.
By the time he graduated from high school, he had saved $252.50 for college by shining shoes for 15 cents per pair at the Savery Hotel in Des Moines.
Hubbard was appointed as research engineer in July 1947, making him the first black faculty member at the University of Iowa. He subsequently obtained a Master"s degree in 1949 and a doctorate in 1954, both from the University of Iowa.
From 1954 to his retirement in 1991 he was a professor of mechanical engineering. In 1966, Professor Hubbard was appointed Dean of Academic Affairs.
He was the first black administrator at any of the Iowa"s universities.
In 1971 he was named Vice President of Student Services, becoming the first black vice-president at a Big Ten university. He served in this position until December 31,1990, when he retired from the University of Iowa. As a memorial to him, the field next to the Student Union on the University of Iowa campus was renamed Hubbard Park on December 6, 1991.
In June 1999, he published the book: My Iowa Journey: The Life Story of the University of Iowa"s First Tenured African American Professor.
Hubbard died on January 10, 2002, at the age of 80.
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Born
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Died
January 10, 2002 (aged 80) -
Nationality
United States