Professor Gene Washington’s CV begins with this Latin phrase, Rem tene verba sequenter, a quote from Cato, Senior, “Keep to the subject and the words will follow.” In graduate school at the University of Missouri, his subject was Jonathan Swift, and his dissertation was a historical-linguistic approach to Gulliver’s Travels (1969). He has kept to the subject of Swift throughout his academic career and into a prolific retirement that commenced in 1993. In addition to literary scholarship, he’s also become an award-winning creative writer, particularly of plays, bringing a Swiftian irony and wit to Yielding, the story of a recently-married couple stranded on a ski lift, and a one-act play, When Robert Redford Ran Over My Skis. One of his favorite roles was as the corpse in Tom Stoppard’s The Real Inspector Hound, but he’s also been active not only in writing plays but also directing them. In truth, his writing has been diverse, ranging from Eighteenth-Century English Literature and Linguistics to Technical and Creative Writing. The premiere journal in writing in higher education, College Composition and Communication, published his “Wh-Questions in Teaching Composition” in 1977. Technical Communicationpublished two articles, including one on “Using Spreadsheets as a Form of Invention” (1986).
Originally from the Show Me State, Dr. Washington arrived in Logan with his wife Dr. Mary (Melle) Washington in 1969. She became the inaugural editor of Utah State University Press but passed in 2002. They embraced the Cache Valley environment as avid cross-country skiers and hikers. Gene and his wife, Molly Hysell, continue this love of the outdoors, gardening, and pets. He’s lectured for USU’s Summer Citizens, been involved in a writing group, and tutored international students in English. Gene Washington is testament to the philosophy that if you work with your mind, there’s no real retirement. To read any of the more than 200 items that Dr. Washington has produced, check out his digital account.
https://digitalcommons.usu.edu
Mufti Nadimul Quamar Ahmed is a graduate student in his second year, pursuing a doctorate in sociology at USU. He recently helped survey Utahns to see if environmental concerns affect the decision to have children.
Utah State University President’s Office recently held receptions for this year’s round of inaugural lectures. Three recently promoted faculty in the College of Humanities and Social Sciences presented thoughtful reflections on their research and the even...
