Biographical Text
Professor Emeritus of Industrial Education Carl A. Moeller (August 16, 1917 -), retired college professor, was born in Saginaw, Michigan, the son of William Moeller and Wilhelmina (Minnie) Moeller. His father, who had emigrated from Germany in 1912, was a head waiter by trade, having been trained in the schools of Germany as a"Kellner." Finding that such a profession had few opportunities in Saginaw, a lumber town, he then became a baker to support his growing family. Carl and his brother Walter lived through the depression of the Thirties as a close knit family, especially because of their father's death during this period. Taking advantage of the NRA and other programs, Carl worked at student work study after graduation from Saginaw High School and received the Associate of Arts degree from Bay City Junior College. He then enrolled at Michigan State University and received his teaching credentials and a Bachelor of Arts degree. His encounter with student life was brief since at that time it was necessary to work three jobs at thirty cents an hour to make ends meet. After a rather short stint at teaching in Michigan Moeller entered the U.S. Army Air Force. He trained at Lincoln, Nebraska and other schools as a fighter plane specialist. Much of his service time was spent in the continental United States. Carl was selected to attend Fordham University in the Army Specialized Training Program to prepare for administrative duties in the occupation of Germany. When this program was terminated due to lack of federal funding, he spent a short time as an infantry squad leader in the 413th Infantry before being reassigned to the Air Force. Discharged from the Army after four years of service, Moeller returned to Saginaw, Michigan where he taught industrial arts at the junior high school level. He then met Margaret Mitchell, who was pursuing a Master of music degree at Michigan State University, and they were married in 1948. They later had a son, William Howard. Bill, now a professional engineer with two daughters, did his first traveling at the age of six months when Carl and Margaret left for Texas A & M for Carl to pursue a masters degree. There he worked as a graduate assistant and organized the development of the Crafts Center at the student center. Their daughter Marilyn was born in the old Army barracks that served as student housing and became the "Texan in the family." After Carl's graduation the family returned to Michigan, where he was employed as a training specialist for the Detroit Ordinance district, a training specialist for the Carboby division of General Electric, and a supervisor of technical training for the Chrysler Missile Division. The pace of working in the constantly up and down missile business led to Moeller' s decision to return to academic life. After a period of time spent at the Redstone Arsenal in Huntsville, Alabama, Carl completed the doctoral program at Wayne State University in Detroit. After the birth of a daughter, Carol, the Moellers came to North Carolina for Carl to teach at North Carolina State University in Raleigh. During his 12 year tenure there, Carl was engaged in numerous research projects and brought the American Foundrymen's Association there for the annual educational program. He worked with the Foundrymen's Association, the American Society of Training Directors and other industrial contacts to improve teacher education in the industrial arts. After a two year stay in Margaret's home town at Mississippi Southern University, where he was active in program evaluation and the concept of visual literacy, Moeller returned to North Carolina to teach at Appalachian State University. Here he was active in teacher education, research in the teaching of manipulative and vocational skills through media, and the supervision of student teachers in the field of industrial arts education. He was active in supervising industrial student internships and was responsible for the development of the state curriculum guides in graphics, automotive mechanics and machine shop. Carrying a varied teaching load of subjects ranging from power mechanics and plastics to the history of vocational education, Dr. Moeller still found time to serve on the Faculty Senate, on the University Safety Committee, and in national offices in the field of industrial arts and education. Dr. Carl Moeller retired in January 1983 after 30 years in education. In retirement, he has found time to take university courses for interest, as well as to rebuild auto engines, and to travel to Austria, France, Germany, Italy, and throughout the United States. - Dr. Richard D. Howe
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