CHADRON, Neb. - Professor Monty Fickel, mathematics department chairman at Chadron State College, died Thursday at Chadron Community Hospital. A school news release said he had been experiencing unspecified health problems in recent weeks.

He joined the faculty in 1981 and had been math department chairman since 1997.

In 2005, Fickel received the national Award for Innovative Excellence in Teaching, Learning and Technology. He received the Donald W. Miller Distinguished Service Award from the Nebraska Association of Teachers of Mathematics in 1993.

He served in the U.S. Navy and earned a master's degree in mechanical engineering from the Naval Postgraduate School. He had bachelor's degrees in mathematics from CSC and metallurgical engineering from the University of Oklahoma.

Fickel, 69, is survived by his wife, Gerry, and three children.