About the Contributors
to the Festschrift in Honor of Charles Speel

This document is part of the Festschrift in Honor of Charles Speel, edited by Thomas J. Sienkewicz and James E. Betts and published by Monmouth College in Monmouth, Illinois in 1997. The Table of Contents for this volume can be accessed here. If you have any questions, you may contact Tom Sienkewicz at toms@monm.edu. Note: This document was revised on April 11, 2002.

These biographies were written in large part by Charles Speel, who adds that

Each of the contributors to this Festschrift has enriched my life and, also, the lives of many others. Every one of them brings a joyful memory because of their wonderful lives and fine accomplishments: a cloud of witnesses for God.

William O. Amy. Soon after Bill's arrival in Monmouth to serve as Dean of the College in 1978, he and his family became warm friends of the Speel family. He was a competent, courteous and innovative academic Dean with whom I served on several faculty committees. His extensive college teaching experience, including two circumnavigations of the Earth with the Semester at Sea program, fitted him well as a teacher. Bill is a sound scholar, blessed with good insight. Emma Janis and I appreciate the Christian discernment, the fine moral qualities and the societal concerns and services of Bill, Flo, and their children.

Richard W. Anderson, MC'66, came to Monmouth College determined to do well. He did so, academically, socially and musically. His fraternity brothers chose him as their president. He and his brothers produced a delightful recording of college and other songs, a recording that I still play in fond memory and delightful relaxation. When, as a student, he visited and sang in our home, I knew that this kind young man would give himself in helpful service and musical joy. Monmouth College enriched his preparation for post-college accomplishments. At Yale he earned two degrees: one from the Divinity School, the other from the Music Department. Dick's career as an opera singer in Europe and America, as a chaplain at Eastern Illinois University, and, as a creative and much loved Presbyterian pastor demonstrate his many talents, but even more, his enduring and wholesome Christian spirit and goodness.

Linda Baldwin, MC'61, grew up as a neighbor of mine, her family attending the same church that my family did. I was pleased when she attended Monmouth College and selected me as her faculty advisor. She did very well academically. After graduation she attended Seminary briefly and then entered the retail sales field in which she applied her business acumen. She did not lose, however, her social and spiritual concern. Her brother, Phil, MC'63, whom I like very much, became a General in charge of the U.S. Air National Guard. He had remained Linda's unswerving supporter. With her two sons grown to adulthood, Linda returned to her goal of completing Seminary studies. She has been ordained and installed as a Presbyterian minister.

John K. Baumann, MC'57, has a kindly Christian character to go along with his clear thinking and active service to others. His wife, Beverly (Carlson), MC'58, is of like character and has a delightful personality. John and his brothers, David and Paul, were active participants in campus Christian groups. An able swimmer on the Fighting Scots swimming team, John taught several fellow students how to swim—a graduation requirement in the 1950s. In his service in the "Short Term" program of the Presbyterian Church (a forerunner and pattern for the Peace Corps), he cherished the opportunity to have a part in pioneer mission work in Ethiopia with Don McClure and others. John did very well at Pittsburgh-Xenia Theological Seminary. He has been a faithful, much loved, Christian pastor, influencing many lives for good and for worthy accomplishments.

R. Douglas Brackenridge is one of America's finest church historians. A clear writer, author and assessor of ecclesiastical developments, Doug has contributed significantly to the story of Presbyterianism in America. His efforts to establish the recording of oral history by outstanding Church leaders has been pioneering. He has helped historians involved with the oral history in other denominations and has also helped "secular" historians who are interested in oral history. As a colleague on the Board of Directors of the Presbyterian Historical Society, I learned to appreciate his fine character, his Christian commitment, his excellent scholarship, and his warm and gracious personality. Doug has a rich family heritage of outstanding Christian leaders, scholars and administrators in America. His sound judgement is obvious in what he says, writes and does.

Cecil Brett has been a close faculty colleague for many years. He has a personality equipped with a quick and discerning mind and a ready wit. Cecil is always courteous and ready to listen to the view points of others. His extensive experiences in Asia—India, South East Asia and Japan, have enriched greatly his very wide knowledge and judgements as a scholar. This is extensively evident in his frequent reviews of scholarly books on Asian governments and society. Cecil's administration of Monmouth College’s program of Asian studies brought many first-rate Asian scholars to Monmouth. His active participation and support of Trinity Episcopal Church, in Monmouth, Illinoins, including his service as organist, are greatly appreciated. As a swimming "buddy" and fellow Rotarian, Cecil has been a warm and admired friend. His wife, Jean, is also scholarly, gracious, and kindly. I have long admired their talented son, Richard, who displays the same fine intellectual ability and wholesome character as his parents.

Robert Cathey. Bob earned his A.B. degree from Davidson College and his seminary degree from Princeton Theological Seminary. He was ordained to "further studies" by his Presbytery. Bob pursued further graduate studies in Systematic Theology at Union Theological Seminary in New York and studied Theology and Ethics at Duke University, where he earned his Ph.D degree in 1989. Bob has taught courses in philosophy at William Patterson College in Wayne, New Jersey, and in theology at both Davidson College and Duke University. In 1989 he joined the faculty at Monmouth College, where he is presently Chair of the Department of Philosophy and Religion at Monmouth College. Bob is a fine scholar and a member of the Center of Theological Inquiry in Princeton, New Jersey. He is currently writing a book on trinitarian doctrine and truth-claims in interfaith perspective. He is married to the Rev. Barbara Houck Cathey, who is pastor of the College Avenue Presbyterian Church in Aledo, Illinois. Bob and Barbara are the parents of two fine children.

Charles Courtney, MC'57. I have known Charles since his high school days. At Monmouth College he was an outstanding student, in his course work, the theater program, vocal music, and several Christian organizations. With his father and mother, Charles and Marie, my family had friendly relations. It was a pleasure working with Charles Jr. and his wife to be, Bonnie McAllister, MC'58, whose parents I also knew, in such organizations as the Gospel Teams, the YMCA, the YWCA, and the Chapel services. I recommended Charles for a Rockefeller Brothers Theological Fellowship which he was awarded. He attended Harvard Divinity School where he had marked success. Later Charles earned a Ph.D. degree from Northwestern University. Soon after completing his doctorate, he was appointed to the graduate faculty of Drew University, where he is still teaching, although, for a time, he was "on loan" to serve as Professor of Philosophy at Georgetown University and Executive Director of the Society for Values in Higher Education.

Janet Forsythe Fishburn, MC'58, was a vibrant, attractive and very competent student at Monmouth College. She was active in many student organizations, including a sorority, the YWCA, the Gospel Teams Chapel services, and community service projects. In her field work in Christian Education, she was well liked and very able. I recall loaning her my blanket once when Prof. Carl Gamer and I accompanied a group of Monmouth College. students to a conference at Allerton Park, the retreat center for the University of Illinois. Janet was a natural and gifted leader, able to express her views clearly and persuasively. Since graduating from Monmouth College, Janet has earned a Ph.D. in American Religious Studies, been ordained for the Presbyterian ministry, served as a Professor of Church History at Drew University, been an Administrator, served on Monmouth College's Board of Trustees, and written and served effectively for the General Assembly, PCUSA, on crucial social issues confronting the Church and Society. She is married to the very able scholar Dr. Peter Fishburn.

Charles Conrad Forman, a classmate of mine at the Divinity School and a fellow student in the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences at Harvard, has had an outstanding career in teaching at Harvard, Tufts, and Wheaton, and also as a counselor to graduate students at Harvard. Charles had additional studies at Oxford, and he has given many lecture presentations at colleges and churches. Charles has had many articles and some books published. He was the editor and a contributor to Religion in the Old Testament (Harper, 1961), which I used as a text at Monmouth College. Charles holds active membership in several national and international professional societies and is widely recognized as a very able scholar in Old Testament, Hebrew, Near Eastern studies, Islamics, and Church History, in particular, Unitarian history and thought. Among his pastoral services was his pastorate, for several years, at the historic First Pilgrim Church (Unitarian) of Plymouth, Massachusetts, where, at Charles' invitation, I occasionally conducted services. Charles and his wife Elizabeth have three children who are very active and prominent in public service in Massachusetts.

Robert Emmanuel Gamer, MC’60, was a student advisee of mine at Monmouth. His father, Carl Wesley Gamer, was head of the Department of Government. His mother, Alice, was a scholar and an artist. Bob was an outstanding student, active in several student groups. His post-college graduate studies were pursued at Brown University where he was elected to Phi Beta Kappa and earned a Ph.D degree in Government studies in 1965. Bob inherited from his parents a lively and caring concern for the welfare of others, both in America and abroad, especially for the "have nots" of the world. His early college level teaching was done at the University of Singapore. In 1968 he joined the faculty of the University of Missouri at Kansas City, where he is currently professor of political science. He is the author of numerous books and articles, including The Developing Nations: A Comparative Perspective (1976), Governments and Politics in a Changing World (1994), and The Changing Context of Third World Political Economy (1995). He is a member of the Harry S. Truman Foundation and the Edgar Snow Memorial Fund, Inc. Bob has been called upon to return to Monmouth to speak to convocations and classes, especially about the roles of government agencies and private groups in bringing aid to needy people. Bob is an able and productive scholar, a congenial and enthusiastic speaker, a warm and highly respected friend, and a much admired alumnus of Monmouth College.

Robert Gillogly, MC'61, was a four point scholar, a fine athlete, a leader in the AT fraternity, a thorough gentleman, and a wholesome person at Monmouth College. We worked together in an independent study course on pastoral counseling. I recommended him to the Session of the Fountain Green Presbyterian Church as a pre-seminary student who could conduct worship services and provide some pastoral services. The congregation loved him. I encouraged Bob to attend Harvard Divinity School, from which he eventually graduated at the top of his class. Over the years, I have kept in touch with Bob and his wife Barbara. Bob has had a highly commendable career as a Presbyterian pastor, earned a Ph.D. degree at Claremont Graduate School, assisted in the creation of youth homes in Ohio and California, worked closely with Dr. Karl Menninger, and, together with Barbara, a trained and able teacher, directed a highly effective program of homes in Kansas and in Indiana for young people who were dependent/neglected and wards of the State. The great majority of these girls and boys completed high school and many graduated from college. Bob came to teach at Monmouth College and served as Minister to the College. Later he became Dean of Students under President Haywood before accepting the call to become senior minister at the First Federated Church of Peoria. In 1994 Monmouth College granted him an L.L.D.

Bruce Haywood, the former President of Monmouth College, has excellent scholarly credentials and wide experience as an officer and administrator in military and academic life. Educated in England, Canada, and the U.S.A., he earned his Ph.D. degree at Harvard. Bruce served as a Professor of German literature, as Dean, and as Provost at Kenyon College prior to becoming President of Monmouth College. His eloquent speaking, marked by wide knowledge and clear insight, enhanced his effectiveness as an administrator and fund raiser for the College. Along with his gracious and talented wife, Gretchen, he has been a very active supporter of the Presbyterian Church. Their faithfulness to the cause of higher education and his leadership in strengthening the academic program of education for service to both Church and Society at large have clearly been manifest.

Jerry Hazen, pastor of the Church my wife and I attend regularly, is a well prepared and challenging preacher, a faithful and kindly pastor and an efficient and courteous administrator. Indeed, he is a very fine minister. He is actively engaged in service to Monmouth College and to the community. Jerry, also, is busily involved in service to the Ministerial Association, the Presbytery, the Synod and the General Assembly. He is a considerate and able counselor and a warm and sincere friend. Jerry is well read, intellectually informed, energetic, and socially alert and helpful.

William T. Irelan, MC'62, is very bright and well informed about national and international affairs, social, economic and monetary. In college Bill was much admired and respected. He was enabled through scholarships and fellowships to study in Switzerland and India. Bill was quiet, thoughtful and gentlemanly, with a well-balanced religious perspective. His sister Judy (Judith MC'60) and her husband, Ralph Riggs, MC'60, were also among Monmouth College’s very fine students. Bill has made an excellent record in international monetary affairs and in legal affairs.

Jack P. Lewis is a courteous, sincere, evangelical Christian. He has a delightful sense of humor. Jack is also a keenly perceptive and prodigious scholar, highly regarded by colleagues in his field of Biblical studies. He and I were fellow students at Harvard where he earned his seminary degree and Ph.D degree. Later, at Hebrew Union College, he earned a second Ph.D. which enabled him to improve and strengthen his knowledge of Hebrew and Biblical studies and, also, early Christian writings and history. He was Professor of Bible at the Harding Graduate School of Religion in Memphis, Tennessee from 1958 until 1989. Jack was appointed Professor of Biblical Literature in the Graduate School of Religion of Harding College. He was a Fellow at the American School of Oriental Research in Jerusalem and has contributed many articles for Professional Journals and books, including The Minor Prophets, The Interpretation of Noah and the Flood in Jewish and Christian Literature, and Questions You’ve Asked About Bible Translations. Jack has been an active member of the Society of Biblical Literature and the American Academy of Religion.

Paul McClanahan was a great chaplain and an inspiring teacher at Monmouth College. His father and I came to Monmouth College to teach the same fall. Because Emma Janis and I loved his parents, it was an easy decision to ask Paul, recently released from the Presidency of Assuit College in Egypt by Gamel Abdel Nasser, to come to Monmouth. Paul, his wife Ruth and their family, lived in our home during the 1964-65 year while I, accompanied by Emma Janis and our daughter Clara Beth, served as a missionary, teaching Church History and Islamics at the United Theological College in Bangalore, India. Paul and Ruth became our good neighbors in Monmouth in the fall of 1965. Their son, Neal, MC'63, was my advisee. Now Dr. Neal, he is a professor of Behavioral Sciences in Philadelphia. Their son, David, MC'71, has become a Director of Development for the American Psychiatric Association in Washington, D.C. Paul is an uncompromising opponent of racism, a clear supporter of human rights, and he has always been able to espouse his convictions with great kindness and Christian love. His actions reflect faithfully the teaching of Jesus Christ.

Thomas Matthews, MC'61, was a diligent and courteous student, not self-serving and always dependable. He was active in his fraternity and in several campus student organizations, including several Christian groups. His judgments were sought out by other students, because of his level-headed insights. I recommended Tom for a Rockefeller Brothers Theological Fellowship. He was awarded it and earned his Seminary degree at Union Theological Seminary in New York. Tom served two churches in Pennsylvania before becoming pastor of the First Presbyterian Church in Richardson, Texas, in 1973. His parents have been very loyal and generous to Monmouth College. His sister, Anne, was one of my best students. Tom's Christian commitment is evident in his caring and helpful service to others. I held Tom in high regard while he was at Monmouth and I still do.

George R. Plagenz was a seminary classmate of mine at Harvard. He is a gifted speaker, a very able writer and a fine scholar. His talents are manifold: a writer of detective stories, a sports broadcaster, an able assistant to Dean Willard L. Sperry at Appleton Chapel in Harvard's Memorial Church, Assistant Pastor of King's Chapel in Boston, a news commentator for Boston's leading radio station, a pastor of eloquence, and a syndicated columnist for numerous newspapers in America. George has a host of friends, a wonderful sense of humor, a very kind and gracious manner, a genuine loyalty to his close friends, and a wholesome Christian spirit.

Nelson T. Potter, MC'61, entered college as a recognized scholar. He was awarded a rare four-year scholarship and he lived up to the admissions department's judgment. His dad was the well-known pitcher, who had pitched for the Boston Braves and the St. Louis Browns as one of the memorable "Gas House Gang." Nelson's dad had an abundance of common sense and wisdom for youths. At Monmouth Nelson played the tuba, was chosen president of his fraternity, worked closely with me to raise the academic and social performance of the "brothers," and served as the fraternity's faculty advisor. Along with Prof. Sam Thompson, I supported Nelson's application for graduate study at The Johns Hopkins University where Nelson earned his Ph.D. in Philosophy. Soon thereafter, he was appointed to the faculty of the University of Nebraska, where he continues to serve as Professor of Philosophy. Nelson also serves on the Monmouth College Senate. Nelson is a gentleman and a scholar, much admired by all who know him.

Charles L. Rassieur, MC'60. Charles was raised with loving and self-sacrificing care by his mother and grandmother. At Monmouth College, Charles was very intelligent, caring, hard working, and active in many student organizations, including the TKE fraternity, YMCA, and Gospel teams. He had a joyful outlook and a courteous manner. It was a joy to encourage Charles to attend Princeton Theological Seminary. In 1974. Charles earned a Ph.D. degree in pastoral counseling from the School of Theology in Claremont, California. Since then he has served three Presbyterian churches as pastor, besides being the executive director of two pastoral counseling agencies and serving on the staff of another agency that primarily offers vocational testing and counseling services to seminarians and clergy. He presently has a counseling ministry out of five different churches in the Minneapolis/St. Paul area. He has also served as an adjunct instructor at Luther Seminary. He is the author of four books: The Problem Clergymen Don’t Talk About (1976), Stress Management for Ministers (1982), Pastor, Our Marriage Is in Trouble (1988), and Christian Renewal: Living Beyond Burnout (1984). The last book is directed to laity and is widely used because of its very helpful insights and practical counsel. Charles is called upon frequently to lead meetings of pastors and laity in discussions of family relationships. He and his wife Ginni have two grown sons.

James Smylie. My association with Jim began when we served together in the Board of Directors of the Presbyterian Historical Society and met at meetings of the American Society of Church History. His alert, careful and lively interest in American history, especially in the role of the Presbyterian Church and its people in the forming of American culture, led to his appointment as Editor of the Journal of American Presbyterians, a responsibility he has held for twenty-eight years. During these years he has been a Professor of Church History at Union Theological Seminary in Richmond, Virginia. Jim has written many incisive and interesting articles for the journal and read frequent papers before the American Society of Church History. Jim has a good sense of humor and a genuine dedication to Christian education and service.

Janet Smith was my colleague, primary art historian, and resident program director when I served as ACM director of the Florence, Italy, in 1976-1977. Janet is a Harvard (Radcliffe) graduate and a graduate student at Yale. Her fluency in Italian, her detailed knowledge of historical sites, churches, museums, travel arrangements, restaurants, Italian politics, and Italian culture is little short of amazing. We became warm friends and the ACM has a very capable resident director in Janet Smith Tonarelli.

Emma Janis (Closson) Speel. A member of the Rhode Island Honor Society and a graduate of Rhode Island College, summa cum laude, Emma Janis taught in the public schools in Cranston, Rhode Island, in Memphis, Tennessee, and in Monmouth, Illinois. She married Charles J. Speel II in October, 1942. They have two daughters: Janis Avery Speel Niblett and Clara Beth Speel Van de Water. Janis Avery was graduated from Harvard University and holds a doctor of philosophy from the University of Maine. Clara Beth was graduated from Monmouth College and Harvard University. Emma Janis taught in the United Presbyterian Church School, served on the Board of Deacons, contributed service for the United Presbyterian Church U.S.A. and the World Council of Churches in Bangalore, South India, at the United Theological College. She has visited historical, religious, and archaeological sites in India, Iran, Iraq, Egypt, Jordan, Israel, Greece, Italy, Switzerland, Germany, France, Spain, the Netherlands, England, Scotland, Ireland, and Austria. She was a long-time member of the Faculty Wives Club at Monmouth College, where she did some occasional substitute and visiting teaching.

Robert Speel, my grand nephew, earned his A.B. degree  from the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia, where Emma Janis and I spent a sabbatical during the spring of 1982. Among his college activities, he was a reporter for the student newspaper. He earned his Ph.D degree in Political Science and Government at Cornell University in Ithaca, New York. His doctoral dissertation dealt with political trends in federal voting in the United States. Since 1992 Robert has been assistant professor of political science at Penn State University Erie-Behrend College in Erie, Pennsylvania.

Douglas Spitz, Sr. was my long time faculty colleague and remains my admired and close friend. He is a sound scholar of American and European history and government, particularly British. Moreover, he is a very able scholar of modern political and cultural life in India, the Middle East and sub-Sahara Africa. He has helped hundreds of students to enlarge their knowledge and increase their understanding of these cultures. His wife, Nell, a long time nurse and teacher of nurses, and all their children and grand-children are intelligent, talented and delightful. Indeed, talent, intelligence and creative ideas are abundant in the Spitz family along with a strong commitment to Christian service and high ethical standards and justice for all peoples of every nation.

Albert Carl Sundberg, Jr. was a classmate of mine at the Divinity School and a fellow graduate student at Harvard. He concentrated in New Testament and Patristic studies. Al taught for four years at Southern Methodist University and then for many years at Garrett Theological Seminary in Northwestern University. He was a Fulbright scholar at Heidelberg, a Fellow of the American Association of Theological Schools, and a Resident at the American School of Oriental Research in Jerusalem. Al was active in, and an officer of, the Society of Biblical Literature and the American Academy of Religion. He has had numerous articles published in professional journals, both American and European, and is regarded as a leading scholar in New Testament and early Christian thought. He is both gracious and knowledgeable. Al served for some time as Dean of Studies at Garrett. I made good use of Al's writings as I taught courses in New Testament Literature and Patristic studies. Al and his wife have two children.

William L. Urban and his wife Jackie are long time faculty colleagues and friends. Bill is a very able historian of American, European, and classical Greek and Roman history. He is an active writer and editor, having written and edited a history of Monmouth College as well as numerous other books and articles, and has served as the editor of the Journal of Baltic Studies. Both Bill and Jackie are multi-lingual. Bill has directed ACM programs in Italy, Yugoslavia, and the Czech Republic, and spent several periods studying in Germany, Poland, and the Baltic nations. They have traveled extensively in Europe and are delightful and well informed conversationalists. Along with professors Cecil Brett, Harris Hauge, and Thomas Sienkewicz, Bill has been my regular swimming companion for many years. Bill and Jackie's son and daughters are very bright, talented, and kind, service-oriented like their parents.

Clara Beth Van de Water, MC '71, is our younger daughter. She was a summa cum laude graduate of Monmouth College and an honors graduate of Harvard Divinity School. She and her husband Paul are the parents of two daughters, Ruth and Rachel. Clara Beth is the Director of Adult Education at the Westminster Presbyterian Church in Alexandria, Virginia. Paul is a Phi Beta Kappa graduate of Princeton University and he earned his Ph.D. degree from the Massashusetts Institute of Technology. He is, currently, the Assistant Director of the Congressional Budget Office. Clara Beth is as honest, fair and considerate as anyone I know.

Ruth Speel Van de Water. Granddaughter of Charles and Emma Janis Speel and a high school senior in Alexandria, Virginia, Ruth is the valedictorian of her graduating class. In the fall of 1996 she will attend the College of William and Mary in Williamsburg, Virginia, as a James Monroe Scholar in the honors program. Ruth sings in many school choral groups, such as the chamber choir, concert choir, and madrigal singers, as well as in her church youth choir. She is also active in her church youth group.

J. Stafford Weeks. From 1959, when Stafford came to Monmouth College as a member of the faculty and College Chaplain, we have been close friends, and so have our families. A graduate of Juniata College and Bonebrake Seminary, he earned his Ph.D degree from the University of Chicago. Stafford has rendered outstanding service to the College, the community and many churches in Illinois. He is a very sincere and effective preacher, a versatile and talented musician, and a sound scholar and admired teacher. Sponsored by the Associated Colleges of the Midwest, he studied in Japan at Sophia University where he helped with the publication of material for the Buddhist sect of Risho Kosai-Kai. He travelled in Southeast Asia and India, was a Ford Foundation Fellow in India studies, and presented scholarly papers at meetings of the American Academy of Religion. Stafford served on four occasions as Dean or Acting Dean of Monmouth College. He has also been a member of the City of Monmouth's School Board, a Trustee of the United Presbyterian Home in Washington, Iowa, Chaplain of the Monmouth Rotary Club, a leader in the Monmouth Jazz Band, and a cellists in the Monmouth Community Orchestra. He has served as Interim pastor of the First Methodist Church of Monmouth and as a Chaplain at Community Memorial Hospital. His many talents and services, together with his kind and joyful demeanor, have endeared him to many people.

Gary Willhardt, MC '59, won my admiration when he was a freshman. When he tranferred to Bradley University, I supported strongly his return to Monmouth. He became a fraternity and campus leader, characterized by sound judgment and a delightful sense of humor. A few years later, when he had completed his Master's and Doctor's degrees in English Literature, I recommended his return to Monmouth College as a faculty member. He has enriched greatly the academic program at Monmouth College. Janis and I have cherished our friendship with Gary and his wife Jan (MC’60, now deceased). Gary is a fine scholar and, most importantly, a good person. It is a joy to keep the continued friendship of Gary.