Jesse Ames was born in Shiocon, Wisconsin in 1875. He attended a one-room rural school and received a degree from Stevens Point Norman School. In 1909 he joined the history faculty at the River Falls Normal School. He briefly left for another position but returned in 1914 as Director of the Campus Training School. He also served as interim president upon the dismissal of President Wilson and in 1917 appointed president. Ames served as president for 29 years, until his retirement in 1946.

Dr. Kleinpell was born on May 11, 1903, in Monona Iowa. He earned a Bachelor of Science from the University of Iowa, a Masters at the University of Chicago, and a Ph.D. in History from the University of Ohio (1936). While furthering his education, Kleinpell began his teaching career at Kemper Junior College in Missouri, then Nothern Montana College in Havre, Montana (1931-35,1936-37). In 1937, he became the head of the Department of History and Political Science at Morningside College in Sioux City, Iowa. In 1939, he joined the State Teachers College in Maryville, Missouri. Finally, as President of the Valley City State Teachers College, in Valley City, North Dakota (1942-46), before coming to River Falls. In 1946, Kleinpell arrived at what was still a State Teachers College as president, being the first president to have been selected by a faculty committee and to have earned a doctorate. Kleinpell resigned as president in 1967.

Richard J. Delorit was a 1942 graduate of the River Falls State Teachers College. He returned to his alma mater in 1953 as an instructor in the Agriculture Department, and in 1975, Dean of the College of Agriculture. In 1964 he became Vice President for Academic Affairs. Following the resignation of President Kleinpell in 1967, Delorit was appointed interim president until George Filed was installed.

George Field President/Chancellor, 1968-1985. George R. Field was born in La Crosse, Wisconsin, in 1929. He completed a bachelor’s degree in geography from Carleton College, a master’s in educational administration from the University of Colorado, and a doctorate from the University of Wisconsin in Madison. From 1951-1953, he served in the U.S. Army. Field taught junior high and served as a school principal before entering higher education administration at the University of Wisconsin. He served in many capacities, the last His last position there was Vice President for University Development and State Relations for the state university system. (https://www.uwrf.edu/AboutUs/Chancellor11Field.cfm)