J. Rufus Fears, Professor of Classics at the University of Oklahoma and widely recognized as an outstanding teacher, has died:
Friends,
It is with heavy hearts that we announce that our friend and colleague, the historian of liberty J. Rufus Fears, died Saturday night. Dr. Fears was the Dr. David and Ann Brown Distinguished Fellow for Freedom Enhancement at OCPA and we had the distinct honor of working closely with him for the last several years.
Dr. Fears wrote many books and articles and even served as dean for the University of Oklahoma College of Arts and Sciences. But, as anyone who knew him can tell you, one word describes him best: teacher. He taught large classes. He graded students’ papers himself. He was a master storyteller who brought history to life. His students loved him. In all, he amassed more than 25 awards for teaching excellence.
University of Oklahoma president David Boren said simply: “Rufus Fears was one of the greatest teachers in the history of our state.”
There is more here:
Three-time student-selected OU Professor of the Year J. Rufus Fears died Saturday, according to a press release. He was 67. Fears was well known for his classes Freedom in Rome and the Freedom in Greece, which were two of the most popular courses on campus, according to the press release. The cause of Fears’ death was not given.
“Rufus Fears was one of the greatest teachers in the history of our state,” OU President David Boren said in a statement. “His death is not only a great loss to the university but to the future generations of students who will be deprived of learning from him in the classroom … Our hearts go out to his wife, Charlene, and their children.”
And remembrances from students here.