Bruce Gawtry '64

by Karl Olson '08

Testing his interests by exploring four different majors at St. Olaf, Bruce Gawtry ’64 finally settled on an English major with a philosophy minor. Yet none of his possible majors reflected where he spent 31 years of his professional life: the U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Service. He spent many years “searching out and confronting a full spectrum of international travelers in order to weed out the small but harmful percentage of criminals, drug smugglers, imposters, terrorists, and illegal immigrants.” During this time he became an international student specialist and was frequently assigned to student processing system design projects at U. S. Immigration headquarters in Washington.   

After teaching at Northwest Missouri State University for a year, Gawtry received more training from the Air Force during the Vietnam War era and the following 15 years as an active reserve officer. Two of his six children were born in Air Force base hospitals.

Gawtry is decades removed from St. Olaf but remembers the values and perspectives he learned at college. “My St. Olaf experience was a major expansion for my personal world viewpoint,” said Gawtry, who recalls playing intramural sports, participating in Scouting, and working 20 hours each week at Rolvaag Library.

After his recent retirement, he again finds himself called to work with international students – this time in the international student offices at Macalester College and the University of Minnesota. When immigration lawyers, former government associates, international student advisers and students have visa or port-of-entry questions and problems, Gawtry often gets a phone call, which, in part, turns his educational philosophy into a reality. “I believe that international education is the key to improving global communication and inspiring peaceful cooperation among nations,” said Gawtry. “The sharing of educational opportunities across borders and cultures will lead to greater understanding in resolving religious, economic, and environmental issues.”