IN MEMORIAM
WILLIAM EARLE DRAKE
William Earle Drake, retired assistant professor
of cultural foundations of education, died on October 25, 1989.
He was 86.
Professor Drake was born on September 25,
1903, in Asheville, North Carolina. He earned bachelor's, master's,
and PhD degrees at the University of North Carolina in 1924,
1928, and 1930, respectively.
Dr. Drake served as an administrator of
public schools in North Carolina and taught at the University
of Missouri and Pennsylvania State University. He joined the
faculty of The University of Texas at Austin in 1957, where
he served as department chair from 1959 until his retirement
in 1969.
Professor Drake was a specialist in the
history and philosophy of education. His publications included
The American School in Transition, Higher Education
in North Carolina Before 1860, Intellectual Foundations
of Modern Education, Sources for Intellectual Foundations
of Modern Education, When Darkness Came, and Betrayal
on Mount Parnassus.
During World War II Professor Drake served
on the National War Labor Board. In 1945-46 he taught at Shrivenham
American University in England under the auspices of the War
Department.
Dr. Drake was a very popular teacher, and
he is remembered fondly by his many students. "I began
work on my PhD under Dr. Drake in the fall of 1962," recalls
Dr. Terry Todd, who now teaches in the Department of Kinesiology
and Health Education at The University of Texas in Austin. "What
I remember most about him is his infectious enthusiasm for intellectual
give and take. He loved nothing better than a rousing discussion
about the ideas underlying the problems facing society in general,
and public schools in particular. I also admired him for the
strength of his character. He never let political winds diminish
his voice as he spoke out for what he believed. At the same
time, however, he was an unusually tolerant man. Dr. Drake was
always willing to allow his students to follow their hearts
in matters of research topics, and this freedom was a heady
thing for a budding scholar. Such a man had many friends, of
course, but one person to whom he was especially close was his
longtime departmental associate, Dr. George Sanchez. They were
quite a pair, and to watch them work together was a lesson in
cooperation and mutual respect. I owe an unpayable debt to Dr.
Drake for his staunch support of my research and for the light
he lit in my mind regarding generosity. He believed in giving
back to education, and I have tried to follow his example in
my own life. What's more, I know that other students who came
under his influence have done the same."
One of those other students, Walter Meyer,
remembers that, "as a graduate student, I took a number
of courses under Dr. Drake and we became friends. He taught
me to ask 'why' and 'how' and to search for my own answers.
My life changed because of him. Dr. Drake served as my graduate
advisor and headed my PhD program. He and his good friend and
colleague, Dr. George Sanchez, had a more profound effect on
my thinking than anyone did in my already full life, an effect
that continues almost 40 years later. Dr. Drake was a gentleman,
a master teacher, a patient listener, and a superb discussant.
I am honored to have had him as a teacher and as a friend."
<signed>
Larry R. Faulkner, President
The University of Texas at Austin
<signed>
John R. Durbin, Secretary
The General Faculty
This memorial resolution was prepared by a
special committee consisting of Dr. Terence C. Todd (chair) and
Professor Emeritus John M. Rich with assistance from Teresa Palomo
Acosta.
Distributed to the Dean of the College of
Education, the Executive Vice President and Provost, and the President
on April 4, 2001. Copies are available on request from the Office
of the General Faculty, FAC 22, F9500. This resolution is posted
under "Memorials" at: http://www.utexas.edu/faculty/council/
Biographical Sketch prepared
by Teresa Palomo Acosta can be found on D
1133.
