In Memory There were many people who helped develop the department of rural sociology, sociology and anthropology Today we remember those who were important to the doctoral program, and were involved in the program up to their death These are the people that many of us here fondly remember

Robert L. Skrabanek

Received his doctorate from LSU and joined A&M in 1949 and chaired the sociology program in the College of Agriculture Head of the Department of Sociology and Anthropology in 1970 Received awards as outstanding Professor in 1953; Distinguished Teaching Award in 1955; Distinguished Research Award in 1982

Demography was his primary area and he authored more than 200 publications Served as President of the Southwestern Sociological Association His last book was We’re Czechs, a book about his life growing up in Snook and Czech heritage.

James Copp

PhD from University of Wisconsin in 1954 Came to A&M in 1972; served as head of Sociology and Anthropology ( ) and Rural Sociology ( ) Specialized in rural sociology and community Was president of the Rural Sociological Society and was also the editor of Rural Sociology and Southern Rural Sociology

Ruth Schaffer

Received her PhD from UNC in 1954 Came to A&M with husband, Al Schaffer, in 1971 (one of the first women professors at A&M) Received College Teaching Award in 1982 Known for her community research Also well-known for her dogged pursuit of the increasing minority hiring and enrollment

William P. Kuvlesky

Published extensively on rural groups- especially challenged the idea of minorities were disadvantaged due to a “pathological subculture” President of the Southwestern Sociological Association in 1974 President of the Association for Humanist Sociology in 1980

Bardin Nelson

Received his PhD from LSU Began teaching at A&M in 1950 (for 32 years) During his tenure, he served as special advisor to President Earl Rudder and as an educational consultant to the Ford Foundation, where he helped establish structure and programs at The University of Allepo, in Allepo, Syria.

David Sciulli

David received his PhD in Political Science in 1983 from Columbia He joined the Texas A&M Sociology Department in 1990 He was interested in political theory, comparative sociology, professions and law and published in all of these areas, including a Rose Monograph.

Stuart Hysom

Stuart J. Hysom PhD from Emory in 2003 Main area was social psychology, especially the examination of how status inequalities were generated and how they might be decreased or eliminated Published on how resources become entangled in status differentiation

Howard Kaplan

PhD from NYU in 1958 Was a fellow and Professor at Baylor College of Medicine for 30 yers Joined A&M in 1988 Published extensively on self attitudes, stressors and deviant behavior Awarded the Leo G. Reeder Award for lifetime contributions to medical sociology

We know that we owe enormous debts to these folks and that our department is stronger and more resilient because of their influence