A Tribute to WARREN D. KRESS: A Human(e) Being

I had known Warren Kress as a professional colleague when I was hired to his position upon his retirement at NDSU. Teaching geography at NDSU was my first full-time appointment. As such, there were many things I was rather apprehensive about. Even after nearly 10 years in the U.S., joining the teaching profession did give me a few butterflies. In such a situation, Warren was a source of much hope and support.

From the moment I first met him at the Radisson, where he came to meet me for a breakfast meeting during my interview, I developed an instant liking for him. He reminded me of my high school geography teacher. Very enthusiastic, knowledgeable, compassionate, and above all filled with curiosity about the world around him. These four qualities defined Warren Kress also.

During my interview, I had to teach an undergraduate class on the geography of India. I had brought some slides with me to show but somehow the logistics in the class room on the 2nd floor of Stevens Hall didn't quite work out. So, I turned off the slide projector and just drew an outline map of India on the chalkboard and went on with the lecture. This was no big deal, really. My high school geography teacher used to draw the whole world map on the chalkboard and I had practiced only the India map. But Warren thought this was really nice. He told me not to erase it. He instantly ran to his office, got his camera and took a photo of me in front of the drawing. I still cherish that photo. It symbolises Warren's enthusiasm for geography. Even more importantly, he did not hesitate to show his appreciation of anyone's efforts. This was to be my first experience of this trait of his.

During the six years I was at NDSU, Warren gave me unstinting and constructive support in everything I endeavoured to do. I always made it a point to share thoughts with him and ended up more enriched.

His knowledgeability was phenomenal. He would tell me things about the historical geography of North Dakota, and indeed the U.S., that only he could have noticed. Well, he was there for much of it! His World War II experiences always informed his outlook towards life. He was not burdened by his knowledge. He wore it lightly and like a pocket watch. Not on display. But, on need, he could quickly pull it out and help. This knowledge did not make him arrogant. He never made anyone feel like an idiot or ignoramus. To him, educating another person was merely a question of sharing a thought. This is the truest sign of a scholar and a gentleman. Warren was both.

He came from a generation of geographers whom he often used to call "pen and ink" geographers. The current digitally-oriented geography was not his forte. But he made it a point to LEARN about these. Every geographers' convention we attended would find me at the sessions and booths of digital (i.e., computer-based) geographic tools. I used to find warren at my elbow, intently listening to the information and even asking questions to further clarify his own thinking.

How many senior geographers I have met at those conventions, who have told me, "I met Warren Kress and he was saying such nice things about you." If a person be known by what he says behind people's backs, Warren Kress was a gem. He was a living example of something I had read in high school Sanskrit class as a hallmark of a noble person: "Having themselves done a good deed, they are silent; but when another does a good deed, they extol it in an assembly."

Everywhere I went in North Dakota ... the guy at the car battery shop, my car dealer, the cop who helped me when I had an accident in Bismarck ... everyone knew Warren. They all remembered him fondly --- some as a genius, some as a crazy professor, others as just a nice guy. But they remembered him from their youth, often way back in time. The word was unanimous: he was a scholar and a gentleman.

It is rare to find such a one as Warren Kress.

Once, we had a tribute to Warren on his birthday. We invited a former professor of his, John Borchert (Professor of Geography, University of Minnesota), as a surprise guest. At one point, we all stood in a circle around the room. Warren had just cut the cake. John and Warren, teacher and student, faced each other a little in the center and apart from us all. John paid a rich tribute to Warren and concluded with words to the effect: "Warren, I hope that when I am gone, what they say about me is like what they say about you now."

That we should all so aspire.

As I write this on a Monday morning in India, it is still Sunday evening in Fargo, ND. The funeral services for this noble man, are still several hours away. I am there in spirit.

It is wiser to recognize the inevitability of the passing of this body, but pay tribute to the spirit that moved amidst us in flesh and blood, and now will move imbued in our memories and daily lives. Warren's passing is not to be mourned. His presence is to be celebrated.

That life is not anywhere near being over.

Thank you, Warren for your presence. I, for one, will not miss you because you are part of everything I do and the life I lead.

Chandra S. Balachandran, Ph.D.
Geographer