Harrison Ewing Hierth
1913 – 2007
Paid Obituary
Harrison Ewing Hierth, Professor Emeritus, 94, of College Station, passed away January 14, 2007 in College Station.
Services for Dr. Hierth will be 2:00 p.m., Saturday, January 20, 2007 at First Presbyterian Church in Bryan. Visitation will be held from 4-6 p.m., Friday at Callaway-Jones Funeral Home. Interment will follow in Chenoa, Illinois.
Dr. Hierth was born in Pontiac, IL on January 5, 1913, the son of Henry Harrison and Bessie Ewing Hierth. He married Margaret Rowland on March 26, 1938. They were married until Margaret’s death in 2002.
Dr. Hierth received his B.Ed from Illinois Wesleyan University in 1935, his Masters from the University of Illinois in 1942, and his Ph.D. from the University of Wisconsin in 1956.
He taught high school in Illinois for eight years before joining the English Department of the Agricultural and Mechanical College of Texas (now Texas A-M University) in 1946. He was Chairman of the Department from 1970 to 1975. He retired in 1978, at which time he was named professor emeritus.
Besides his teaching and departmental duties, Dr. Hierth was active in student affairs, serving as debate coach, sponsor of the debate team, advisor to Student Conference on National Affairs, member of the Student Publications Board, and member of the University Center Board. With his wife, he was a Danforth Fellow.
Dr. Hierth was the co-author of The Unity of English, Five Basic Focal Points. He was a member of a number of professional associations including the American Association of University Professors, Modern Language Association, Texas College English Association, and Conference on College Composition and Communication. He served as Editor of Texas College English, was Past President of the South Central Conference on Composition and Communication, was a member of the executive council and Secretary/Treasurer of the Texas Association of Department Heads, and Chairman of the South Central Association of Departments of English.
He is listed in Who’s Who in American Education, Who’s Who in the South – Southwest, and Who’s Who in America. Among the honors he received are the College Appreciation Award, College of Liberal Arts – Sciences, 1961; the Distinguished Service Award, 1964 MSC Council; membership in Phi Kappa Phi; and the Illinois Wesleyan University Distinguished Alumni Award, 1985.
Dr. Hierth was an Elder in the Presbyterian Church, a founding member of OPAS and the Children’s Museum, served on the board of the Bryan City Mission, and was a long time member of The Kiwanis Club.
Survivors include two daughters and son-in law, Mary Margaret – Thomas S. Whipple of Arlington, VA and Harriett Sue Driver of Houston; two grandchildren and five great-grandchildren. Memorials may be made to First Presbyterian Church, 1100 Carter Creek Pkwy, Bryan, TX 77803, or Harrison E. Hierth Endowment, Department of English, Texas A-M University, College Station, TX 77843-4227.
For those who wish, condolences for the family may be left at www.callawayjones.com.
Sue, you are in my thoughts and prayers this weekend. Wish I could be there with you. What a wonderful journey your Dad had. I forgot he was a fellow Illioisan. Susan has a hug to give you from me. Love you. See you when you return. Julie Durlam
We are very sorry for the loss of your father. Irene always spoke fondly of him and always watched A-M games when they were on TV. We hold you in our thoughts and prayers. Hope to see you when you get to Illinois.
I wish I could be with you for the services, Sue. Your father was such a fine man and he was justly proud of his daughters.
much love – margaret
Our sympathies for you and your families with the death of your father.
In our prayers,
Paula (Lehmann) Rosenbaum, Mark – Michael Lehmann, Cynthia Rung, Theresa Nickloy and our families.
I remember your father from when I was a child, another English Dept faculty kid. My dad was your father’s colleague, Louie Hauer. My sympathy to you both and to your families. Keep him alive in your memories, and he will live in your hearts.