Published: March 17, 2008 05:07 pm            

Political science faculty Embry, Elliot honored

Two Texas A&M University-Commerce professors in the Department of Political Science have topped off distinguished careers with the titles of Professor Emeritus.

Dr. Charles Embry and wife Polly Detels and Dr. Charles Elliott and wife Paula Elliott were honored at a recent ceremony hosted by A&M-Commerce President Keith McFarland.

“All of us have seen faculty go on to bigger and better things, but some have felt the calling to stay at this university, and this is true of Dr. Charles Embry and Dr. Charles Elliott,” McFarland said.

Embry joined the A&M-Commerce faculty in 1969 and taught a large range of courses. From 1976 to 1989, he taught at the New Center for Learning and for four years was director.

From 1982 to ‘84, he was coordinator of the Master of Public Administration Program offered by the political science department.

A political theory scholar, Embry is an expert on Eric Voegelin, a political philosopher and political scientist.

Embry is the author or editor of three books - “Robert B. Heilman and Eric Voegelin: A Friendship in Letters, 1944-1984”; “Philosophy, Literature, and Politics: Essays Honoring Ellis Sandoz,”; and “The Philosopher and the Storyteller: Eric Voegelin and Twentieth-Century Literature,” published this year.

“I want to thank the university for the almost 40 years I’ve been here,” Embry said. “It’s been fun.”

Elliott came to A&M-Commerce in 1973 and for 26 years was the university’s pre-law adviser. Many of the students whom he advised have gone on to successful legal careers.

Journalists seek Elliott out for interviews because of his knowledge of Texas politics. The professor is the co-author of two books, “World of Texas Politics” and “Texas Government Today.”

He is active in politics and has served his party as precinct chair, county chairman for three terms, and was on the State Executive Committee. In 2000, Elliott ran for state representative.

A Commerce resident, Elliott has served on the Planning and Zoning Commission.

“It’s been a pleasure to be at this school,” Elliott said. “I’ve enjoyed working here,” he said.

Elliott added he appreciated the freedom he had to have guest speakers in his classes and to develop new courses.

Dr. Paul Lenchner, political science department head, said it has been a pleasure to work with both Embry and Elliott.

Known by many on campus for his knowledge of Voegelin and his writings, Embry’s interests are varied, Lenchner said. Embry enjoys opera and football, gourmet cooking and nachos. “He has a good way of putting things into perspective and is willing to laugh at himself,” the department head said of Embry.

Elliott treats students as adults in his classes and expects much from them, Lenchner said.

“His constitutional law class is well known, and students who were serious got serious preparation for law school,” Lenchner continued.

For 16 years, Elliott served as department head and did an “outstanding job,” he said.

Also speaking were Scott Downing, a staff member at Gee Library, and Dr. Bill Thompson, sociology professor and director of Mayo College.

Downing said that Embry was a “true friend” and is “without doubt one of the world’s great laughers.”

Thompson recalled when Elliott left a puppy with him for his family to care for while he and his wife were away. “I saw him reduced to tears,” Thompson said of Elliott. Known for his no-nonsense attitude in class, Elliott’s “bark is worse than his bite,” he said.

“When you lose someone like Charles Embry and Charles Elliott, the institution loses an important part of its culture and personality,” Thompson said.

        

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