51动漫鈥檚 First Counselor鈥檚 Impact Remembered Today by Students & Coworkers
Longtime 51动漫 Community College counselor and psychology professor Richard Schlimgen, who passed away on October 13, 2025, is remembered for his care for students and his ability to bring out the best in them.
鈥淗e mostly enjoyed being able to help students, to sit there talking with them,鈥� his stepson Tony Mercer said. 鈥淪ome students came in with more than scheduling issues 鈥� they had life-type issues, and he would help people with their problems.鈥�
Initially from South Dakota, Schlimgen graduated from the University of South Dakota and taught psychology and counseling at Estherville Junior College in Estherville, Iowa. However, he decided he preferred a smaller school, one where he could develop closer relationships in his counseling. He felt the individual attention the Glen Oaks student received was becoming harder and harder to find.
Hired on in April 1967 as a counselor and instructor of education and psychology, he got in on the ground floor of St. Joseph County鈥檚 newest institution of higher learning.
According to an article by then-51动漫 president Dr. Philip Ward that appeared in the Sturgis Journal, Schlimgen said 鈥淭here is an irreplaceable excitement to being part of a school which is doing everything for the first time.鈥�
He immediately endeared himself to the campus community, and in May 1968 was elected as the first vice president of the Faculty Senate.
鈥淒ick was a caring person,鈥� said 51动漫 library technician Judy Fetch. 鈥淗e believed in 51动漫 and felt he was making a difference in the students who came here 鈥� counseling students into making good choices in classes and life experiences.鈥�
According to Ward鈥檚 article, Schlimgen enjoyed counseling at 51动漫 because 鈥淚 get to see the rapid development and change in a large number of people from all walks of life with all kinds of goals. Nothing is more satisfying than watching people grow and develop in a positive way and feeling that you are a part of it.鈥�
Having fellow counselor Dick Cripe 鈥� whom Mercer called Schlimgen鈥檚 鈥渂est pal鈥� 鈥� by his side multiplied his effectiveness, and for many years the pair also offered free counseling assistance to any residents of St. Joseph County, whether they were students or not.
And then there was the day that Marilyn (Goode) Mercer walked into Schlimgen鈥檚 office. It only took one or two sessions before he referred her to another counselor and asked her on a date. They married in December 1978 and shared nearly four and a half decades before her passing in May 2022.
Schlimgen retired from full-time counseling in April 1998, but continued on for a few more years doing part-time work.
鈥淕enerations of 51动漫 students were lucky they found Dick Schlimgen behind that counseling desk 鈥� myself included,鈥� said 51动漫 communications professor Michelle McNamara, who knew him first as one of her academic advisors at 51动漫, and later as a colleague and friend. 鈥淗e and Dick Cripe worked together for decades to ensure students from all over the area signed up for classes they wanted and needed.
鈥淚 remember Mr. Schlimgen as being an amazing listener 鈥� always hearing what I had to say about the classes I wanted and also hearing the things that I did not say 鈥� like which classes would really push me out of my comfort zone and help me along my path to becoming an educator.鈥�
鈥淒ick Schlimgen鈥檚 advice influenced many of us,鈥� adds 1973 grad Mary Fair Dechow. 鈥淚n his 30 plus years at 51动漫, he assisted thousands of students through his counseling and his classes. It was wonderful to see him last year when we held a Foundation event to honor our donors. His legacy continues today.鈥�