Charles Michael Lutz, Professor Emeritus
On January 25, 1936 Charles “Chuck” Lutz began his
life in Wilmington, Delaware. After graduating from
St.Elizabeth’s High School in 1953, Chuck waited until
he turned 18 to enlist in the US Army. He advanced to
the rank of corporal in the188th Airborne Infantry of
the 11th Airborne Division. In 1954 Chuck received
both a Congressional and a U.S. Army appointment to
the United States Military Academy at West Point.
Chuck chose the Senatorial appointment over the Army’s
thus opening a slot for another soldier to be
selected.
Upon graduation from West Point he married the former
Barbara Licki in a double wedding ceremony with her
sister, Marian, and his room mate Jim Taylor. Chuck
chose to be commissioned a second lieutenant in Armor
stationed in Mannheim, West Germany for a 3 year tour
of duty. His two daughters were born in Heidelberg
during that tour.
The Army gave Chuck orders to attend the Naval Post
Graduate School at Monterey, California where he
earned a 2nd BS in Nuclear Physics. Among other
military schools that Chuck attended were the Armed
Forces Staff College, Industrial War College, Chemical
Corps. School, Command and General Staff College, and
other service schools.
Within the service of his country, Chuck was
recognized for valor and meritorious service at each
duty station. This appreciation resulted in the
formal award of certificates and medals.
Chuck had a distinguished twenty-one year military
career, rising to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel.
Assignments took Chuck and the Lutz family to Fort
Campbell, Kentucky, Fort McClellan, Alabama, two
tours to West Germany; Fort Ord, California; Fort
Knox, Kentucky; Albuquerque, New Mexico; Huntsville,
Alabama; Oakridge Tennessee; the Pentagon; two
back-to-back tours in Vietnam; Fort Belvoir, and
lastly as Professor of Military Science (ROTC) at Utah
State University. He helped develop and implement
operations and logistics data processing systems.
This back-ground served him well when he arrived at
Utah State University to help design the Business
Information Systems curriculum.
Chuck received his M.B.A. degree from the University
of Utah and the Doctor of Education degree from Utah
State University. Throughout his teaching career,
Chuck’s goals were to become a “master teacher” and to
help and advise students to the best of his abilities.
He had the distinction of earning two prestigious USU
Robins Awards – in 1986 as USU Advisor of the Year and
in 1995 as Teacher of the Year, and Professor of the
Year for the University in 1991.
Chuck received exceptionally high student evaluations
for his teaching. His learning objectives, teaching
methods, and a feedback system ensured that all
students were competent at the conclusion of a course.
It was Chuck’s belief that learning must be
interactive, that students are not only required to
answer questions but to ask them and to otherwise
contribute to class discussions. Students described
him as a great motivator and master teacher. Chuck
described his students as “dear hearts,” and they were
truly dear to his heart. Colleagues, students, and
friends benefited from his encouragement, kindness,
thoughtfulness, and ever-present sense of humor.
After 18 years of dedicated service to Utah State
University, Chuck retired in 1998 and was honored by
the State Board of Regents with the title of Professor
Emeritus..
Masonry was a large part of Chuck’s life and more so
after his retirement from USU.
He modeled his theory for serving humanity and
leading a good life on a poem that allowed “I shall
pass through this world but once. Any good therefore
that I can do or any kindness that I can show to any
human being let me do it now. Let me not defer or
neglect it, for I shall not pass this way again.”
Chuck was a Master Mason and very active in the
following Utah Masonic Bodies: Harmony Lodge #21,
Past Master; Amity Lodge #12, Worshipful Master; Logan
Chapter #8 Royal Arch Masons, Ogden Commandery and
Ogden Council; Red Cross of Constantine; El Kalah
Shrine; Past Associate Grand Guardian of Utah; Past
Associate Guardian of Bethel #12, Logan, Past Worthy
Patron of Clara Barton, Chapter #16, International
Order of Job’s Daughters, and Order of the Eastern
Star.
Chuck loved his family dearly. He was a devoted
husband, father, and grandfather who enjoyed throwing
out “trick questions” around the dinner table to his
clan or teaching the grandchildren card games. He
also enjoyed the company of son-in-laws Michael R.
Lamb and James G. Johnson.
Chuck is survived by his wife of 45 years, Barbara;
two daughters, Barbara Michele Lamb (Michael) of
Seattle, WA, and Christine Johnson (James) of Sandy,
UT; his granddaughter, Courtney Lamb, grandson,
Zachary Lamb; and sister Liz Abhau (James) of
Pennsville, NJ; brother and sister-in-law James and
Marian Taylor of Monument, CO; nephews Jim Taylor,
Robert Taylor, Michael Taylor, Bill Lyons, and nieces
Robin Taylor Cardon, and Lisa Keller. There are also
numerous grand nieces and nephews.
A memorial service will be held Friday, July 30, 2004,
11:00 a.m. at Allen-Hall Mortuary, 34 Center Street,
Logan, UT.
Chuck cared about children with language and learning
disabilities and those needing treatment for burns and
orthopedic care. In lieu of flowers, those wishing to
honor Chuck’s memory, are encouraged to make
contributions to Children’s Learning Center, Scottish
Rite Masonry, 1140 36th Street, Suite 160, Ogden, UT
84403 or Shriner’s Hospital for Children, Fairfax Road
at Virginia Street, Salt Lake City, UT 84103.