The Grossnickle Parents
Russell Grossnickle Sr. was born on December 10, 1894 in Urbana, Indiana. Jessie Linda King was born on October 4, 1893. Grossnickle Sr. attended Manchester College, the University of Nebraska, and the University of Minnesota. He was drafted into World War I and was a member of Company B of the 149th Infantry. Once back from the war, Grossnickle Sr. and Jessie married on August 20, 1918.
In 1927, Grossnickle Sr. join the Mississippi University for Women (MUW) in Columbus, Mississippi as a mathematics professor. He taught at the University for 38 years and headed the math department for 26 years. For his outstanding work as an educator, he the first recipient of the MUW Medal of Excellence. On June 6, 1983, Jessie Linda King Grossnickle died. Nearly six years later, on May 25, 1989, Russell L. Grossnickle Sr. died. Jessie and Russell were prominent citizens of Columbus, MS. They were known for the interests in gardening and their love of tennis. Grossnickle Sr. even organized Columbus' first tennis club. He also created the Grossnickle Scholarship Fund, aimed at women who sought a career in a field of mathematics. Today, the Grossnickle Hall, located on the campus of MUW, stands in honor of his commitment to his students and to the citizens of Columbus, MS. |
The Grossnickle Siblings
Jessie Elizabeth Grossnickle Farber was the oldest of the Grossnickle children. During her childhood, Jessie was a skilled tennis player, ranked among the top players in the country - 1st in the South, 13th nationally, and 10th nationally in doubles. Jessie graduated from the Mississippi University for Women and Texas Woman's University, where she earned an M.A. in physical education. While in Miami, Jessie married Henry Lie, a Norwegian champion figure skater. Jessie and Henry had one son: Henry Lie. Jessie taught swimming and tennis at seven colleges and universities as physical educator. She took part in developing synchronized swimming. Jessie's love of gravestone carvings led to her second husband, Daniel Farber. She was also a founding member of the Association for Gravestone Studies.
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Frances L. Grossnickle Schmitz was the third of the Grossnickle siblings, just after Russell Grossnickle Jr. In high school, she was a state math champion and ranked 10th nationally in doubles, along with Jessie. Frances also attend the Mississippi University for Women where she was a member of Kappa Mu Epsilon, a math fraternity, and served as vice president. In February of 1942, she married David Dowell, who died later that year in World War II. Frances later moved to St. Louis, Missouri to work for McDonald Douglas Aircraft. There, she met her second husband, Howard Schmitz. Frances and Howard had three children: Sue Schmitz, Tory Schmitz, and Robert Schmitz. Frances is remembered as an avid gardener and volunteer.
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Dr. James "Jimmy" Walter Grossnickle was the second son of Jessie and Russell Grossnickle Sr. During his childhood, he - along with his sisters - was a nationally recognized tennis player. James entered Northwestern Medical School at the age of seventeen, making him the youngest person to attend the school in its history. After completing his general residency at New Orleans' Charity Hospital and his surgical residency at Pennsylvania's York Hospital, James moved to Stuart, Florida in 1961. For some time, he was the only surgeon in Martin Country. James practiced medicine for thirty years in Stuart and retired in 1991.
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