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Long-time Instructor succumbs to illness |
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Friday, 05 March 2010 |
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COURTESY PHOTO Tom Lewis
— By Dr. Sara Jane Richter on 03/01/2010
Liberal, Kansas — Tom Lewis, long-time OPSU instructor, died on the evening of Sunday, February 28, in Liberal, Kansas, after a long and debilitating illness. His wife Charla Dannels Lewis and daughter Robbi were by his side. Tom touched and influenced a legion of students since he first began teaching English and humanities in 1987. Besides being a well-respected and beloved instructor, he advised English majors and pre-law students, was commencement coordinator for many years, and helped to advise Anglistics (English Club). For a time, he served as the sponsor of the campus black student organization. Last year, the 2009 senior class named him Outstanding Faculty Member.
Born December 4, 1960, of Cherokee descent, Tom graduated from Nowata (Oklahoma) High School and attended the University of Oklahoma until he transferred to Oklahoma State University where he received his BA and his MA degrees. He and his family made their home in Liberal. Tom loved fishing and basketball, carpentry and reading, OU sports and the Pittsburg Steelers. He had an intellectual brilliance and cynical sense of humor rarely matched by anyone.
For the past several semesters, Tom taught his courses exclusively online for OPSU as his illness negatively impacted his mobility, voice, strength. Never did it impair his thinking and intellect though. Calm, positive, and dignified to the end, Tom was surrounded by those whom he loved and those who loved him.
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Last Updated ( Tuesday, 16 March 2010 )
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