John F. Walkup
Texas Tech University
Electrical and Computer Engineering, Emeritus
Faculty Commons National Faculty Representative
During my first year as an assistant professor at Texas Tech, fresh out of graduate school, I quickly learned that there was really only one key person in my department whom I needed to please – the chairman, Dr. Russell (Russ) Seacat. If he was happy with your performance, then that was all that really counted.
Russ was clearly “The Boss” and the strongest leader I have ever known. He had served in the Army Air Corps in WW II and had been a member of the Corps at Texas A & M University. He was a no-nonsense type of leader.
A Father Figure
To his students and his young faculty, Russ was a father figure. His dedication extended to coaching our department’s intramural athletic teams, including faculty teams that would occasionally engage the students in baseball games at departmental picnics.
Russ stayed available for trips to a nearby restaurant for coffee whenever we needed his ear on a quick decision about some project plans we were making. On the other hand, when Russ was upset with your attitude or something you said or did, life could be pretty uncomfortable, at least for a while. Fortunately, however, Russ tended to forgive rather quickly, especially if he felt you were working hard and paying attention to your teaching of the students.
Being one of Russ’ young “troops” was unforgettable for all of us whom he hired while chairman. Many of my faculty colleagues went on to become successful academic administrators based upon their years of watching him in action.
His example shaped how I mentored both my graduate students and younger colleagues. One commitment I and many other colleagues made was to be available to our graduate students when they needed to talk, a practice we had learned from Russ. Having established an “available when needed” policy does provide some unusual opportunities to minister to students—and even to ex-students.
A former student stopped by my office just as I was leaving one evening. He introduced himself and reminded me that he had taken one of my undergraduate courses many years earlier. He said that he had experienced some personal difficulties in recent years and would like to talk with me.
He Wanted To Talk With Me
He explained that a lot of his beliefs as a Christian had been shaken by these experiences. Knowing that I was a believer, he said he had wanted to talk with me about whether the basic foundations of his faith were still dependable. Together we reviewed the basics of the Gospel and God’s love for him.
Finally we prayed together and I prayed that the Lord would provide him with the assurance he needed of Christ’s love and promises. With that he thanked me and disappeared into the night. I packed up my briefcase and headed home, marveling at God using me simply because I had taken time to care.
While I may not have showed my concern for my students in the same ways that Russ Seacat had, my sense is that God had used me in their lives in ways that were very meaningful to them. Isn’t that kind of eternal legacy worth more than a lot of other things we routinely list on our resumes?
© 2007 John Walkup Used by permission of Faculty Commons