POCATELLO - Between teaching classes and serving as Idaho State University ombudsman, Dick Spall says he hardly had time for his research.

So he'll concentrate on research after he retires in mid-July from his post as a pathology professor in the biological sciences department at ISU.

He wants to devote more time to researching the evolutionary history and biogeography of a group of parasites.

"The basic nature of research satisfies a need we have to discover and know things," he said. "It doesn't matter if it has application to our everyday lives.

"We just want to have answers."

Answers are not just part of his quest in research, though. Finding answers and investigating problems was also a large part of his role as university ombudsman during the last nine years.

Spall served as an impartial third party whose primary role was to help solve problems in the academic community with fairness and timeliness before any formal action was taken.

Most recently, Spall concluded an investigation commissioned by ISU President Richard Bowen. Bowen asked him to develop an accurate history of alignment discussions and announcements regarding the colleges of Engineering and Technology.

"It was difficult," Spall says. "I had to investigate people I work with and have a great respect for. That's not comfortable."

He said the engineering/technology investigation was one of the most expansive ones he has done as ombudsman. He met with more than 30 people during this process.

Although he enjoyed working both as an ombudsman and as a professor, he said it was just time for change.

"I had to step away from the classroom," Spall said. "My job was consuming me, and I wanted to complete some research before I croak."

Spall said university professors are typically stretched too thin.

"There are just too few pairs of hands to get all the work done, but this is a good university with good faculty," he said. "It's been a good career here."

Tanna Barry covers health care, ISU and serves as the Web editor for the Journal. She can be reached at 232-4161 Ext. 241 or by e-mail at tbarry@journalnet.com.

Fast Facts

- Who: Dick Spall.

- What: Spall is retiring after teaching at ISU for 22 years.

- Family: He and his wife, Jane, have raised six biological children. They also have two foster children that they helped support and then sent to medical school.