Lecturer dies at work

A longtime Chico State lecturer, 66-year-old Willis Geer, died in his office in Butte Hall on Monday (March 2).

Geer’s body was found by a custodian early Monday evening, according to a Chico State press release, which noted that “no foul play is suspected.” Geer (pictured) earned a juris doctorate degree from the University of Wyoming College of Law in 1974 and ran private law practices in Gillette, Wyo., and Buffalo, N.Y., before he began lecturing in Chico State’s Department of Political Science in 2007.

On Wednesday (March 4), the university lowered its flag to half-staff in Geer’s memory. His survivors include his wife, LaDona Knigge, associate professor in the Department of Geography and Planning. The university said it will share details about Geer’s memorial service as soon as possible.