C. William Kerr ’44

Almost like a latter-day "Mr. Chips" as an exceptional teacher of history and a top administrator at Wesleyan U. for nearly 40 years, Willie Kerr died Feb. 18, 1999, of cardiac arrest at his home in Middletown, Conn. He was 75 and still active as a consultant to the university.

He had served for 18 years as provost in charge of all educational activities, and 20 years as secretary of the university. Memorial observances were held at Wesleyan, with eulogies by three university presidents and many close friends and former students.

"Willie served with distinction, wit, and charm," said Wesleyan President Douglas J. Bennet. "His knowledge of history was prodigious and legendary. He befriended and mentored generations of students. We have all lost a gentleman of great stature."

Kerr graduated from Princeton summa cum laude with highest honors in history, and was elected to Phi Beta Kappa. At Princeton he roomed with Bud Herbruck, Ken Miller, and Tony Gosse.

He received master's and doctoral degrees from Harvard. Prior to joining Wesleyan, he spent three years as assistant history professor at Kenyon College and five years as a teaching fellow at Harvard.

His many organizations included the Psi Epsilon fraternity, where he was a faculty adviser for 43 years. Willie never married and left no close survivors.

The Class of 1944