Dr. Roderick Sprague III, 79

Dr. Roderick Sprague III was born in Albany, Ore., on Feb. 18, 1933. He lived most of his life in Idaho, Washington and Oregon.

He received his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in anthropology from Washington State University, served two years in the U.S. Army and received his Ph.D. in anthropology from the University of Arizona, Tucson. He worked at Washington State University as a research archaeologist for three years before going to the University of Idaho in 1967 as an assistant professor of anthropology. Within a year and a half of his arrival he became chairman of the Department of Sociology/Anthropology and Director of the Laboratory of Anthropology. After 12 1/2 years the two positions were separated and he remained the director of the Laboratory of Anthropology, but continued to teach anthropology part time including summer archaeological field schools. One notable year was a sabbatical in 1986-1987 teaching at Inner Mongolia University as the first participant in the University of Idaho exchange with the institution.

Field work was conducted in Idaho, Washington, Oregon, Alaska, Arizona and Prince Edward Island. In 1986 he received both the University of Idaho Library Faculty Award for Outstanding Service and the Sigma Xi Published Research Paper Faculty Award. In 1996 he received the J.C. Harrington Medal, the highest international award in historical archaeology and the Carol Ruppe Service Award in 2004, both given by The Society for Historical Archaeology. Currently he remains the only member to ever receive both of these awards and the only member to serve two terms as president of the society.

During his career he published more than 120 scientific papers and articles plus more than 100 unpublished reports to agencies specializing in historical archaeology, culture change theory, and artifact analysis including such areas as glass trade beads and buttons. He conducted research and burial excavations at the request of 10 different American Indian tribal governments in the Plateau, Great Basin and Northwest Coast with repatriation a standard procedure many years prior to the enactment of the federal Native American Grave Protection and repatriation Act. Editorial duties involved 40 years as senior co-editor for the Journal of Northwest Anthropology, 96 of the 98 issues of the University of Idaho Anthropological Reports, 20 years as Review Editor for Historical Archaeology, and serving on numerous editorial advisory boards.

Legal work for five different Northwest Tribes and two tribes outside of the area involved testimony in 5th District Federal Court. On five occasions, including one case before the Supreme Court, as well as testimony before various state and Federal legislative bodies.

After retirement he continued to live in Moscow with his wife Linda. He was designated Professor Emeritus of Anthropology and Director Emeritus of the Laboratory of Anthropology at the University of Idaho. He continued to conduct research and serve as an expert witness for Northwest tribes after retirement.

Rick was preceded in death by his parents, Roderick Sprague II and Mary Willis Sprague. He is survived by his wife, Linda Ferguson Sprague; two sisters, Anne Geaudreau and her husband Wain, and Arda and Bob (deceased) Rutherford; four children and two grandchildren, Roderick Sprague IV of Moscow, and Katherine Sprague and her partner Tabitha Simmons of Moscow, Frederick Sprague, his wife Dawn and their son Jack of Renton, Wash., and Alexander, his wife Rebecca and their son Phineas of Boise.

In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to: The Roderick Sprague Endowment, Department of Sociology & Anthropology, C/O University of Idaho Foundation, INC., P.O. Box 443147, Moscow, ID 83844-3147, www.uidaho.edu/class/socanthro or The Roderick & Linda F. Sprague Research Library, C/O Fort Walla Walla Museum, 755 Myra Road, Walla Walla, WA 99362-8035, www.fortwallawallamuseum.org/.

Cremation was held and an informal celebration of Roderick’s life will be held at 11 a.m. Friday, Aug. 24, 2012, at the Unitarian Church in Moscow. A potluck reception will be held immediately following services downstairs at the Unitarian Church, everyone is welcome.

Short’s Funeral Chapel is entrusted with arrangements and online condolences may be made at www.shortsfuneralchapel.net.