A Professor’s Influence

13 October 2007 at 3:08 pm Peter G. Klein 4 comments

| Peter Klein |

As a professor, you never know how much influence you have. Sometimes you hear from former students, years later, thanking you for some remark you made in class, for challenging or inspiring them, for helping them see things in a different way. (You rarely hear from the ones you damaged for life, but forget the sample bias. . . .)

Most of us don’t get thanked on national TV, however. During the fourth quarter of last weekend’s Tennessee-Georgia game the ESPN crew showed an old picture of Tennessee head coach Philip Fulmer from his playing days in the 1970s, then mentioned former history professor Milton Klein, described by head announcer Ron Franklin as Fulmer’s mentor, a professor who “took a young Philip Fulmer under his wing and helped guide him” through his student days. Way to go, Dad! (Thanks to my brother Ed, whose company created ClipShack, host of the clip linked above.)

Update (26 October): Mom gives the football team a back-handed compliment in the local paper (scroll down to the second letter).

Entry filed under: - Klein -, Teaching.

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4 Comments Add your own

1. Such a nice Linkage over the Generations « silly little country | 13 October 2007 at 6:37 pm

[…] Just go look! Oh, I mean read. […]
2. Charles Bryan | 15 October 2007 at 4:42 am

Imagine my surprise as I was watching the Tennessee-Georgia football game and the announcer related the crucial role that Professor Milton Klein played in Coach Philip Fulmer’s life. Milton was the greatest professor I ever had, and he was a central player in my life. Next year I will be wrapping up a long and happy tenure as CEO of the Virginia Historical Society. It took Milton’s arm twisting to convince me to apply for the job, and, might we say, the rest is history. Next to marrying my wife and having our family, coming to the VHS is the best thing I’ve ever done. It wouldn’t have happened had I not gone to dinner with Milton nearly 20 years ago. That evening, following many hours in his graduate seminars years before, was a turning point in my life. Thank you “Uncle Milty” and go Vols!
3. Peter Boettke | 18 October 2007 at 8:37 am

Peter,

What a great story of your Dad’s impact on a young man. I think we often underestimate the “transformative” role that education can play in the lives of the students that enter college. Your Dad obviously had that impact on this Coach and numerous others throughout his career.

Pete
4. Joe Mahoney | 18 October 2007 at 10:46 am

Very nice, Peter!