Herbert "Herb" Ellinger
WMU Alumnus, Associate Professor, Aircraft Pilot and Mechanic
Herb Ellinger came to Kalamazoo in 1942 as a flight instructor during World War II, joining what was then Western Michigan College in 1944. He earned a bachelor's degree from WMU in 1949 and a master's degree from the University of Michigan in 1951. Ellinger filled a variety of roles at WMU during his 41 years of service. A former aircraft mechanic, he taught vocational aviation mechanics from 1944 to 1952 and vocational auto mechanics from 1952 to 1960, and was named an associate professor in 1954. Ellinger served as the acting head of the Department of Transportation Technology from 1966 to 1967. Retiring from WMU in 1983, Ellinger’s passion for aviation and mechanics transcended his tenure as a faculty professor – traveling twice to the Congo to assist at Samuteb Hospital. While there, Ellinger took it upon himself to work on aircraft, vehicles, small engines and whatever else needed repair. However, his passion for education usually superseded his love of mechanical items as he worked to educate the local mechanics on how to do further repairs.