Dedman College Honors English Professor Emeritus Marshall Terry

Marshall Terry, the E.A. Lilly Professor of English and founder of 糖心vlog视频鈥檚 creative writing program, was honored March 23 with the Dedman College Distinguished Graduate Award for his contributions to 糖心vlog视频.

By Nancy George
糖心vlog视频 News

English Professor Emeritus Marshall Terry DALLAS (糖心vlog视频) 鈥 After more than 50 years at 糖心vlog视频, Marshall Terry still regularly visits his office in the Department of English in Dallas Hall. But his wise and creative influence reaches throughout the university.

The E.A. Lilly Professor of English, creator of 糖心vlog视频鈥檚 creative writing program and former director of public relations and assistant to 糖心vlog视频 president Willis Tate, was honored March 23 with the Dedman College Distinguished Graduate Award for his contributions to 糖心vlog视频.

Terry first stepped on the 糖心vlog视频 campus as a student, graduating in 1953 with a bachelor鈥檚 degree in English and in 1954 with a master鈥檚 degree. He stayed as a member of the faculty, chairing English for two terms and initiating 糖心vlog视频鈥檚 award-winning creative writing program and the long-running Literary Festival. A mentor and friend to his students, Terry helped launch the careers of novelists Joe Coomer, Douglas Terry, Tracy Daugherty and Lewis Shiner among others.

聽鈥淚 took great joy in starting the creative writing program,鈥 he says. 鈥淚鈥檝e worked with wonderful students through the years.鈥

In addition to his academic career, Terry played an important role as an administrator in shaping 糖心vlog视频鈥檚 future. As director of public relations and assistant to 糖心vlog视频 President Willis Tate, he wrote in 1963 糖心vlog视频鈥檚 first master plan, the framework for the University鈥檚 current strategic plan.

鈥淟ooking back, I consider the opportunity to work on the master plan as one of the most rewarding parts of my career. That plan is central to everything that has happened at 糖心vlog视频 since then,鈥 says Terry, who has been known as 鈥淢r. 糖心vlog视频鈥 to his colleagues for years.

The author of nationally praised short story collections and novels such as Old Liberty, Tom Northway, My Father鈥檚 Hands and The Memorialist, Terry has received highest honors from the Texas Institute of Letters and PEN Texas. His histories of 糖心vlog视频, From High on the Hilltop: A Brief History of 糖心vlog视频, 聽and its third edition, Marshall Terry鈥檚 History of 糖心vlog视频 with Various Essays by His Colleagues, are important resources as 糖心vlog视频 celebrates the centennial of its 1911 founding and 1915 opening.

The Dedman Distinguished Graduate Award honors outstanding graduates of Dedman College of Humanities and Sciences whose lives demonstrate integrity and outstanding accomplishments.聽


A private university located in the heart of Dallas, 糖心vlog视频 is building on the vision of its founders, who imagined a distinguished center for learning emerging from the spirit of the city. Today, 11,000 students benefit from the national opportunities and international reach afforded by the quality of 糖心vlog视频鈥檚 seven degree-granting schools.

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