Dr. Walter P. Kroll (#228)
Dr. Walter P. Kroll, 80, of 12 Frost Lane in Hadley passed away peacefully on Sunday morning, May 1, 2011, at the Cooley Dickinson Hospital with his wife at his side.
Walter was born in Chicago, Ill. on Dec. 11, 1930, the son of the late Walter B. and Ann (Fadziejewski) Kroll. Walter Kroll graduated from Crane Technical High School, Chicago in 1952. In October of 1953 he enlisted in the U.S. Army, serving in the 418th Med Co., where he received the National Defense Service Medal. He later transferred to the Army Reserves where he was honorably discharged in October of 1961 at the rank of private first class. He received his undergraduate degree at Northern Illinois University and then went on to earn a master’s degree at the University of Illinois and a doctorate at Indiana University. Following academic positions at Fort Hays Kansas State College from 1959-63, and the University of Texas from 1963-67, he joined the faculty of the founders of the Department of Exercise Science (now Kinesiology) at UMass Amherst in 1967, eventually receiving the honorary appointment as the first University Commonwealth Professor. Kroll was a pioneer and always ahead in his field. Well before computers were even available for common use, he learned computer programming and applied it to implement multivariate statistical techniques to study questions such as the role of personality in athletic performance. One of his books, "Perspectives in Physical Education," was used as a college textbook for decades. His research spanned many areas, including sports psychology, applied statistics and measurement, and sports history. He was best known for his achievements in motor integration, advancing the use of oscilloscopic electromyography to study the role of the nervous system in the timing of rapid human movements.
In later years, he and his colleagues developed a technique called patterned electrical stimulation to treat stroke, cerebral palsy, and head injury patients, allowing them to regain some movement in paralyzed limbs. He was granted tenure in 1970, and in 1973, he was elected to the American Academy of Physical Education, an organization then restricted to only 75 members in the world. He was a much sought-after speaker in his field and published over 100 research papers in national and international journals during his career. Dr. Kroll was the dean and former chair of the Department of Exercise Science and retired as Commonwealth Professor Emeritus of Kinesiology in 1995.
He had a lifelong love of amateur wrestling and supported the sport at many levels for the greater part of his life. He was an accomplished wrestler both in high school and college, and in later years shared his experience as coach. He was one of the founders and supporters of the first ever wrestling team at Hopkins Academy in Hadley, where all three of his sons wrestled varsity. He was a close friend of the late Homer Barr, UMass wrestling coach, as well as a familiar face at UMass wrestling events. He also scored matches there as a volunteer for many years. He was a communicant of Most Holy Redeemer Church in Hadley.
Adapted from obituary published in the Daily Hampshire Gazette on May 4. 2011
