William R.B. Gillham Jr. *64

William Gillham, professor emeritus of religious studies at Albion College in Albion, Mich., died unexpectedly Oct. 14, 2017, at age 84.

Gillham graduated from Washington University in St. Louis in 1955, and from Southern Methodist University’s Perkins School of Theology with a master’s degree in 1958. In 1960, he earned a master’s degree and then in 1964 a Ph.D. in religion from Princeton. In 1961, he was hired as a philosophy and religion professor by Albion College. His hiring doubled the size of both departments, and he held that appointment for many years.

He remained at Albion for 40 years and helped design key parts of the college’s evaluation and accrediting practices, including its unit-based grading system, student course evaluations, and formal faculty-tenure process. He also played a key role in establishing the Basic Ideas program and taught some of the first Honors Program and First-Year Experience seminars.

A self-described cultural conservationist, he was an ardent champion of the liberal-arts tradition based on the Western classical canon. His later sabbaticals focused on fine-arts research for his courses combining religious studies, philosophy, music, literature, and visual arts.

Gillham is survived by his wife, Natalie; their four children (all Albion alumni); and several grandchildren.

Graduate memorials are prepared by the APGA.