It has been a difficult year for the college community with the loss of so many of our colleagues, and continues with the most recent loss of Charles McAdams, humanities professor, on Oct. 26. Charles had begun his phased retirement after 29 years of service at Brookhaven College. It took him months to clean out his office.
Charles started his career as the band director for the Trumann Public School District in Trumann, Ark., in 1961. All together, he spent more than 46 years working in education teaching music and humanities, touching the lives of thousands of students during his tenure. Charles, with his fellow humanities professor, Adrien Cuellar-McGuire, developed the first online humanities course in the district.
In addition to his teaching, Charles contributed to students’ education through his long work with Rotary International. He served as the chair of the Carrollton-Farmers Branch Rotary Club’s scholarship committee and long encouraged the organization in its support of community college students.
When word reached the college of Charles’ passing, colleagues from across the college shared their thoughts and memories.
Bob Austin, music professor, shared a story about his daughter taking a course with Charles. “My smart, delightful but ‘free-spirited’ daughter, Kim was struggling to find direction. She took Charles’ Coordinated Studies humanities class, and it became a turning point for her. She loved the work. It truly inspired her and Charles became perhaps her all-time favorite teacher.”
Across disciplines and roles, Charles touched many different people's lives at the college and around the district. Karen Belgard, administrative assistant to the instructional dean, sent an e-mail with this message: “I am so thankful that I got to know Charles. He encouraged me to go to Mexico back in November of 2004. And, he always encouraged me to keep singing and learning.” Janice Franklin, professor at Mountain View College, sent her thoughts to the college in an e-mail as well. “Charles McAdams was kind, generous and gracious. Quite by chance, he became a mentor for me, and I developed a deep respect and fondness for him. ”
