Charles P. Loomis was born October 26, 1905 in Broomfield, Colorado to George Foote Loomis and Sarah Price Loomis. He came to Las Cruces, New Mexico with his parents during his teens and attended New Mexico College of Agriculture and Mechanic Arts, graduating with a bachelor's degree in 1928. While attending NMCA & MA Loomis participated on the football team, lettered in track, edited the school paper, played in the band, and was salutorian of his graduating class. He taught agriculture classes and coached at the college in 1928.
Loomis received his master's degree in Sociology and Economics from the University of North Carolina in 1929. His thesis was "The History of North Carolina Farmers' Union." He was a research fellow in sociology at North Carolina State College in 1929 and an instructor of sociology in 1930 and 1931. He earned his Ph. D. in Sociology and Economics at Harvard University in 1933. His dissertation was entitled "Family Composition and Socio-Economic Activities of the White Farmers in Wake County, North Carolina." He was a research fellow in sociology at Harvard University in 1932 and assistant professor and tutor in sociology in 1933. He studied on a Social Science Research Council research fellowship at the universities of Heidelberg and Koenigsberg, Germany, 1933-1934, and completed post-doctoral work at the University of Mexico in 1942. Loomis's professional experience began as an agricultural economist for the United States Department of Agriculture in 1934. He served as Senior Social Scientist for the USDA from 1935 to 1944, and became Assistant Chief, Division of Extension and Training for the department in 1944. He was a visiting lecturer at Harvard University in 1944 and head of the Department of Sociology, Michigan State University, from 1944 to 1957. He continued as a research professor of Sociology from 1957 to 1971. In 1967 he was honored with an M.S.U. Distinguished Faculty Award. He retired from M.S.U. October 1, 1971. Shortly afterward, he returned to Las Cruces, New Mexico where he was semi-retired but continued to teach at New Mexico State University. Loomis died in Chicago, Illinois on July 6, 1995 at age 89. He was survived by his wife, Zona; three daughters, Vera, Elizabeth, and Laura.
From the description of Charles P. Loomis papers, 1940-1969. (New Mexico State University). WorldCat record id: 60643734
