In memoriam: Alfred H. Krebs, former vice president for administration

Alfred H. Krebs, former vice president for administration at Virginia Tech, died Nov. 17 in Trumansburg, N.Y. He was 91.

Krebs came to Virginia Tech from the University of Maryland in 1969. He served as head of agricultural education and was appointed director of the summer school program. He became assistant vice president for academic affairs in 1972 and later, in 1975, became vice president for special projects. In 1977, he succeeded the late Stuart Cassell as vice president of administration.

He retired from Virginia Tech in August of 1981.

Krebs and his wife, Jean created the Alfred H. and Jean E. Krebs Scholarship Fund for the Agricultural Education Program in order to benefit students who have expressed a desire to teach in public schools.

Born in Medina, N.Y. on Sept. 9, 1920, Krebs was the son of the late Martin and Clara Krebs. He earned his bachelor’s degree, master’s degree and Ph.D. from Cornell University. During World War II, he served in the U.S. Army as an interpreter at a Japanese prison camp until he was honorably discharged in 1945.

Prior to his work at Virginia Tech, Krebs held positions in agricultural education at the University of Illinois at Champaign Urbana and at the University of Maryland.

He was the author of "More Effective Teaching" and the fifth edition of "Agriculture in Our Lives." He also was selected twice to serve as co-editor of Agriculture Magazine.

Krebs and his wife retired to Trumansburg in 1983, where he was actively involved in Ithaca Cayuga Rotary.

He is survived by his wife of 66 years, Jean (Erath) Krebs; sister in law and brother in law, Ed and Kay Errigo of Trumansburg; and several nieces and nephews. In addition to his parents, Alfred was preceded in death by four brothers, Edwin, Paul, Raymond, and Martin; and two sisters, Helen and Louise.