The end of an era (06-25-07)
One hundred and eighty years after the United States drafted the Constitution, John McDaniel arrived on the Adams State College campus excited about history, politics, and teaching his students. That was forty years ago, yet McDaniel remains true to standards he established during his early days of teaching. He still wears a coat and tie, calls his students by a title and last name, and holds them all to high academic standards.
"Doctor John is traditional," said Dr. David Mazel '85, '87, assistant professor of English, who had an office next door to McDaniel for the last ten years. "His lectures are formal, yet he is always willing to entertain conversation and opinions. He is urbane and professional, and still approachable and funny.
"Despite his formality, Doctor McDaniel has wry sense of humor," said Mazel, who has known McDaniel both as a student and colleague. "You have to have a sense of humor if you are a liberal democrat in Texas."
The U.S. Constitution is a document for the people, and McDaniel is a professor for the students. He has helped establish 40 tuition scholarships.
"I've always thought our slogan, 'quality education with a personal touch,' adequately describes Adams State," McDaniel said. Dr. Ed Crowther, chair of the History, Government, Philosophy Department, said McDaniel is a student-centered professor who "really pushes them to excel in and out of the classroom."
"His scholarship programs have made attending Adams State a possibility for many students," Crowther said. "As a colleague, John is warm and supportive. His experience has been invaluable to us. After 40 years, it's hard to imagine the department or Adams State without him." A scheduler working in Colorado Representative John Salazar's Office, Jennifer Barela '05 said she is proud to have been a student of McDaniel.
"I can't put my finger on what exactly Doctor McDaniel ever did or said to inspire me, but I was a better student because of it," she said. "He made me believe in myself."
Adams State President David Svaldi said: "Dr. John McDaniel has successfully taught generations of Adams State students and is a role model for the type of campus citizen junior faculty should aspire to. He has not only contributed to student learning, but he has generously financially supported many students so that they could complete their degrees. He is a true scholar and a gentleman, and he will be missed."
The Constitution is the work of many minds and stands as a model of cooperative statesmanship and the art of compromise. As a senior faculty member, McDaniel has exhibited those same traits as he led commencement ceremonies for the last 14 years as faculty marshal. Mazel said McDaniel has great respect for the formality of education and the commencement ceremony: "Doctor John has respect for the whole academic enterprise. He realizes that every now and then a ceremony should be held to acknowledge the seriousness of academics and higher learning."
Dr. Tom Gilmore, emeritus professor of business, was Adams State's president when McDaniel first became faculty marshal. "John McDaniel is both the consummate scholar and supporter of Adams State," Gilmore said. "He stressed intellectual excellence among his students and ensured those who met his standards were given financial help to achieve their potential. He is a role model for the rest of us."
"Doctor Gilmore insisted graduation is for the students," McDaniel said. "It was his idea to have the president of the Associated Students and Faculty hand the diplomas to the president, who in turn hands them to the graduates." A representative from the graduating class gives a brief reading, which also involves them in the ceremony, another change in the program since McDaniel has been marshal. This spring commencement was the first in ten ceremonies graduating senior James Johnson wasn't an usher for the ceremony. "My first class with Doctor McDaniel was American Government," he said. "I changed my major to history, and Doctor McDaniel was a huge influence in that decision."
Not only has McDaniel changed students' minds about what they will study, but he is also credited for encouraging them to get involved in politics, whatever their party preference.
Dr. William "Bill" Rakow, Jr., '69 is the only person in his family who votes blue.
"Doctor John was visiting, and we met my brother and his son for lunch," Rakow said. "My brother pointed to Doctor John and told his son, 'That's what a Democrat looks like.' I thought, 'What a compliment for the Democrats.'"
In Lebanon County, Pennsylvania, where Rakow lives, the majority of the population is Republican.
"Doctor John uses Lebanon County as an example in his class as always voting Republican," Rakow said. "He took me under his wing and changed my life, he really did.
"The first thing that pops into my head when I think of Doctor John is how he always said, 'You can see a lot further if you sit on the shoulders of giants,"' Rakow said. "He is one of those giants."
Jerry Crisci '70 said his county used to predominately vote Republican.
"Doctor John used to quote (Harry) Truman: 'If you want to live like a Republican, vote Democratic.' He knows what is going on in our current administration and is not happy with the way they are looking at the Constitution.
"Doctor John is a top-rate professor," Crisci said.
Crisci, and his wife, Patti '70, became close to McDaniel as students and have remained so ever since. He is their first child's godfather, and they visit each other often.
"Doctor John is the epitome of what a college professor should be like; he is the type of person who really gets you thinking," Crisci said. McDaniel's dedication to education is the core of his profession. McDaniel said he is perpetually learning in order to teach each class as a new experience, quoting both Geoffrey Chaucer, "... and gladly would he learn and gladly teach," and Oscar Hammerstein, "by your students you are taught."
"I never teach a class the same way. I can think of no other profession where one can learn as part of one's responsibilities," he said. McDaniel's experience in the Kennedy administration added to his teaching expertise. He was working on his Ph.D. at Harvard when he left to help elect John F. Kennedy.
"I thought it was that important," he said, noting it was a time of intense idealism. "We really thought all things were possible to make the world a better place." After Kennedy was elected, McDaniel worked for his administration. The assassination was a traumatic experience for the whole country and left McDaniel wanting a change. He finished his doctoral work at the University of Texas.
"One can plan one's life," McDaniel said. "But many things occur that one does not anticipate. I first majored in geology to be a petroleum engineer. An English professor opened a whole world for me. I discovered the world of literature and a love of history."
McDaniel received his bachelor of arts and master of arts degrees in English and literature, respectively, at Texas Christian University. He served as an officer in the Air Force and took advantage of a Fulbright Scholarship to the University of Strasbourg in France.
"While in Europe, I visited the great museums and gothic cathedrals. It was an eye-opening experience," he said.
He said he has a great love of the Russian novel.
"Tolstoy and Dostoevsky are my favorite Russian authors," he said. "I also love Shakespeare and am committed to the arts." "When Doctor John was here last fall, we all went to the opera house twice, and he went all four times," said Crisci. "He is so knowledgeable about everything, from politics to football. He is an amazing Renaissance man."
Rakow said he agrees: "Doctor John taught me so much about the finer things in life. He loves opera and is a gourmet cook." Johnson has been McDaniel's work-study since his first year at Adams State and has received a McDaniel Scholarship.
"He is like family to me," Johnson said "He has encouraged me to the utmost. I cannot describe how important Doctor McDaniel is to me and my education."
"I personally know of seven students who couldn't have attended college without a McDaniel Scholarship, including me," Johnson said. Through the Adams State College Foundation and teaming up with Adams State alumni, former colleagues, and current faculty, McDaniel has created forty scholarships. The scholarships are named in honor of the individual whom McDaniel recruited to invest in the future of Adams State students. Each fund is usually restricted to students majoring in a particular subject, such as history or education.
McDaniel donates $5,000 to each scholarship, which is then matched by both the scholarship partner and the Adams State College Foundation.
"The money is put into a permanent endowment, the principle remains untouched, and the scholarships are funded by the interest," McDaniel said.
Vicki Ford '71 is on the scholarship committee and cosponsors several McDaniel Scholarships.
"Doctor McDaniel is famous for his essay tests and for his 'Texas sayings,'" Ford said. "He is the only professor I ever had who corrected my tests for grammar and spelling with a red pen."
The philosophy behind McDaniel's teaching style could be a factor in his commanding such respect and admiration. "I prefer to teach why history happened, not just what happened," McDaniel said. "It is not about memorizing miscellaneous dates and events, but understanding why."
Mark Lammers '80, '82 was McDaniel's graduate assistant.
"He's been a mentor to me ever since 1978," Lammers said. "He has always been there when I need help and guidance. Adams State College is incredibly lucky to have him as a professor, given his expertise and background. He is probably the best professor I had, including my time in law school. He enjoyed teaching and helping students and would take the time to meet with you."
Johnson said he agrees: "Doctor McDaniel could have taught at Harvard. He loves to talk politics, but not to argue. He is respectful of everyone's point of view."
"Doctor McDaniel taught me that through hard work and dedication, success can be achieved, a lesson I used in college and now in both my personal and professional lives," Barela said. "He also taught me respect. He expected respect from his students but gave them nothing less than his in return. Even today, I have nothing but the most heartfelt respect for the man."
