Professor given W. Germany's highest civilian award By Stan Nelson O# Um Kmerald Distinguished scholar* often let their accomplishments speak for themselves and remain silent in spoken acknowledgement. Germanic languages and literatures Professor Emeritus Wolfgang lajppmann is one such man. In his more than 30 years of service at the University. Cepp mann has earned high support and praise from fellow col leagues, troth na tionally and internationally. This week the Federal Republic of Ger many recognized Leppmann's lifetime outstanding achievements by presenting him the Commander's Gross of the Order of Merit, one of the highest civilian awards granted by (he West German government The Order of Merit is rarely bestowed upon German languages, literature and cultural scholars such as tarppmann. said West German Consul General Eva I.indemann. I.indemann presented the award to Leppmann Monday at a private ceremony held at the Faculty Club, call ing him "a truly universal man” in research and wisdom. "How fortunate that the University of Oregon has faculty members with the classical attributes of the inquisitive mind and intellectual reasoning power encompassing any and all subject matter that presents itself during a lifetime in an academic career.” I.indemann said. Lindemann further commended Lepp matin for generating in students a mutual interest between West Germany and the United States "The award was arranged without my knowledge." Leppmann said. “1 am very pleased It was an honor given to the department as well as myself." he added. Leppmann is a very modest man. said Roger Nicholls. professor of Germanic languages and literatures, which makes it difficult to know the extent (jappmarvn has contributed to education during his lifetime. A native of Berlin, leppmann received his early education in Germany. Switzerland, Italy and England before at tending the University of Toronto, where he receiver! his undergraduate and master's degrees. He later received his doctorate from Princeton University. He first joined the University faculty in 1954 after serving three years as an in stuctor at Brown University. In the ensu ing years, Izippmann taught at Yale University, the University of Virginia, the University of Toronto am! Vassar College as a visiting professor, he said. leppmann was instrumental in the creation of what was to become the department of Germanic languages and literatures in 19t>4 and acted as the first head of the department, said (nan Woods, present department head. laippmann "has the knack of introduc ing students to the language and culture of (iermany and making them want to pursue the field of study.” Woods said. He has his students' admiration at both the undergraduate and post-graduate level. lztppmann taught Wood's first- and second-year Orman instruction while she was an undergraduate at the Univer sity and helped provide incentive to go on to post-graduate work, she said. Three of l.eppmann’s former students are past or present heads of Germanic language departments at U.S. colleges or universities, she said. Besides educational instruction. I.epp mann has proved to be a successful author, having written five interna tionally recognized books. Time Magazine described l