{{Short description|American academic administrator (1909–1997)}} {{Use mdy dates|date=June 2024}}
'''Stephen Edward Epler''' (1909–1997) was an American academic administrator who founded what is now Portland State University (PSU). In 1934 he developed six-man football for small high schools, and in 1940 became the dean of men at Southern Oregon College in Ashland, Oregon. After serving in the United States Navy in World War II, he founded the Vanport Extension Center in 1946, which later became PSU; he succeeded in keeping the institution running after the building housing it was destroyed in the 1948 Vanport flood.<ref>{{cite web |title=Stephen E. Epler (1909–1997) |website=Oregon Encyclopedia |url=https://www.oregonencyclopedia.org/articles/epler_stephen_e_1909_1997_/ |access-date=June 10, 2024}}</ref> After being passed over as dean and later president of the institution, he accepted presidency of Reedley College in California and then the College of Marin. In 1966, he was chosen as first president and superintendent of Ohlone College.<ref>{{cite web |title=Dr. Stephen Epler, First President / Superintendent, 1966–1975 |publisher=Ohlone College |url=https://www.ohlone.edu/ohlone50/dr-stephen-epler-first-president-superintendent-1966-1975 |access-date=June 10, 2024}}</ref>
Epler died in Carmichael, California, in 1997.<ref>{{cite web |title=Obituary – Stephen Edward Epler |website=SFGate |date=July 25, 1997 |url=https://www.sfgate.com/news/article/OBITUARY-Stephen-Edward-Epler-2831735.php |access-date=June 10, 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Obituary: Dr. Stephen Edward Epler |newspaper=Beatrice Daily Sun |location=Beatrice, Nebraska |date=July 19, 1997 |page=7 |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/beatrice-daily-sun-obituary-for-stephen/72515059/ |via=Newspapers.com}}</ref> A residence hall at PSU is named for him.<ref>{{cite web |title=Stephen Epler Residence Hall |publisher=Portland State University |url=https://www.pdx.edu/buildings/campus-building/stephen-epler-residence-hall |access-date=June 10, 2024}}</ref>
== References == {{reflist}}
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Epler, Stephen}} Category:1909 births Category:1997 deaths Category:American academic administrators Category:Presidents of Portland State University