Dallas Wall Rust

“TO THE WRONGS THAT NEED RESISTANCE, TO THE RIGHT THAT NEEDS ASSISTANCE, TO THE FUTURE IN THE DISTANCE, GIVE YOURSELVES.”

Carrie Chapman Catt closed her commencement address to Iowa State’s Class of 1921 with this challenge to the graduating students. Upon her retirement as principal of Roosevelt Elementary School in 2003 and because she has been a distinguished educational leader in the Ames Community School District, we are honoring Dallas Wall Rust by placing her name in the Plaza of Heroines on the campus of Iowa State University.

Dallas certainly has always exemplified the “giving of one’s self to the assistance of others” and has done this with integrity in so many ways throughout her educational career as an elementary teacher, for over 20 years then as a teacher specialist for the Ames Community School District, and lastly as the principal at Roosevelt Elementary School in Ames, Iowa for 15 years. We wish to honor Dallas for such an outstanding educational career in Ames, Iowa.

Dallas was born and raised in Ames. She was the daughter of Dr. David Wall Sr. and Mrs. Margaret Alice Wall. Upon graduating from Ames High School she attended Southern Methodist University in Dallas Texas, receiving a teaching degree and Bachelor of Science degree in science and math. True to her Iowa roots, she returned to the state of Iowa to begin her teaching career and then later to obtain a Master’s degree from Iowa State University in Research in Education.

Dallas Wall Rust will always be remembered for her educational expertise which she shared so willingly as well as the personal and professional interactions she established with her colleagues, her students, and their parents.

Submitted on 6/11/03