Royce Delmatier, PhD

Department of Political Science
1966–1989
Deceased: 2008

Awarded four battle stars for his service in World War II, Royce Delmatier is remembered as a modest man with an intense work ethic, strong sense of personal responsibility, and a great dedication to democratic values.

Author of The Rumble of California Politics, 1848-1970, Delmatier worked on many successful campaigns for the Democratic Party. In 1959, Governor Pat Brown hired him as the chief deputy director of what is now the Department of Consumer Affairs. He also served as deputy director of the Department of Veteran Affairs.

The skills and conviction he brought to state government shaped his work at Chico State, earning him universal respect among faculty and administrators. He established the public administration program, which continues to give students the knowledge and experience they need to excel in government and nonprofit sectors. Delmatier believed in and encouraged student participation in important department and university roles, and was an early advocate for hiring minorities and women.

“Del,” as he was known to colleagues, taught with creativity and from a great depth of knowledge. He was respected and liked by students, to whose success he was devoted. Through his teaching, advising, and mentorship, he imparted integrity, compassion, and administrative savvy, which is said to have marked his own leadership in the Department of Political Science. He joined that department in 1966 and chaired for most of his tenure.

He served as the faculty representative for what is now the California Collegiate Athletic Conference (1973-1988) and is one of the few non-athletes to be inducted into the Chico State Athletic Hall of Fame.

Delmatier earned a dual PhD in U.S. history and American government from the University of California, Berkeley in 1955. After retiring, he earned a BA in English from Chico State.