W. Speed Hill ’57

After six years of contending with Parkinson's disease, W. Speed Hill died May 8, 2007.

Speed was internationally renowned in the field of textual editing, the discerning of the relative authenticity of manuscripts from times when copyrighting was unknown. His life's work was to lead a scholarly team in the creation of a multivolume compilation with commentary of the works of Richard Hooker, a wise and remarkable English Renaissance theologian.

Speed was associated with the Folger Shakespeare Library in Washington, D.C., and was co-founder of the Society for Textual Scholarship. He served as professor of English at Lehman College and the Graduate Center of the City University of New York until his retirement several years ago, after which he continued to lecture at academic societies. At a memorial service, former students, many now in academia, cited their gratitude for his help in their careers, their admiration for his intellect, and their pleasure in his wit.

A native of Lexington, Ky., Speed attended Episcopal High School in Alexandria, Va. He obtained his doctorate from Harvard. He is survived by Linda, his wife of 23 years; three children, Julie Beck '82, Christopher, and Madeleine '89; and a brother, Eugene '47. The class extends its condolences to them.