By Vincent D. Scebbi Assistant News Editor
To most people, Richard Boyer, a retired professor of history at UT who passed away on Feb. 22, had a competitive and gruff exterior, but those who were close to him knew him as a kind and loyal man, according to William O’Neal, professor and chair of history.
Boyer, who retired in 1993 and taught at UT for 29 years, passed away due to a rare blood disease called myelodysplasia.
O’Neal said Boyer was very opinionated and was willing to share his thoughts with anyone willing to listen.
“He was a man who was known for his strength of opinions,” O’Neal said.
Boyer was known for being a strong voice for all faculty, staff and students, said Larry Wilcox, a retired history professor from UT.
“He was an example of a faculty member we have far too few of at UT,” Wilcox said. “UT has become a better place because of him and faculty like him.”
According to Wilcox, Boyer was an active member in a number of groups, including the Military Affairs Committee and the Athletic Board of Control.
Boyer was also a member of Faculty Senate from 1967 to 1993 and one the founding members of the UT American Association of University Professors.
Bob Niedzielski, a retired professor of chemistry from UT, said as a member of Faculty Senate, Boyer always stood behind faculty members and students.
“He was a fearless advocator for faculty,” Niedzielski said. “He held the administration’s feet to the fire. He went to bat for students and staff. His heart was in the right place.”
Wilcox said Boyer would stand up to the administration even if it meant taking a pay cut.
“I think anyone who knew him would agree he spoke out on behalf of students and faculty even if at his own expense,” he said.
Boyer started teaching a World War I class at UT, which is still being taught today, Wilcox said.
According to O’Neal, Boyer received an outstanding teaching award in 1984 and the distinguished service award in 1998 from the Ohio Academy of History.
“He was passionate about his family, this department, the College of Arts and Sciences and the university,” O’Neal said.
Niedzielski said Boyer had a passion for England and would tell stories to anyone.
“He was famous for his stories on English history,” Wilcox said.
Boyer often traveled to England for his work and he published several books on British history, according to O’Neal.
Niedzielski said Boyer had two sons and two daughters.
“He was great with his family,” he said.
Boyer’s son Peter Boyer, a criminal defense attorney in Toledo, said he cannot recall one event his brothers and sisters participated in that his father was not present for.
“He did everything he could,” Peter Boyer said. “He was always there for all of our events, and with four kids, that’s a lot. He believed that was what he should be doing, providing for his family.”
Peter Boyer said as a child, his family was able to travel a lot and he has lots of fond memories of going to the Toledo Zoo with his father.
“We used to go through the tunnel and he would make the chimp sound there,” Peter Boyer said. “There are a lot of funny stories, but most of them involve him being there for us.”
Peter Boyer said he recalls his father being competitive with his children, especially on vacations to the beach where they would pick sea shells.
“[He] would go into the shoreline and we would laugh at him as he’d snorkel in two or three feet of water just to pick out better sea shells than us,” he said.
Peter Boyer said his father taught him what it meant to be a father and a contributing member of the community.
“[He taught me to] make sure you’re around for your kids and make sure they know you’re there and travel is a big part of their life,” he said. “Take care of your friends, neighbors and family. He would always defend the underdog and to this day I do volunteer work.”
Wilcox said Boyer was not someone who could be easily forgotten.
According to O’Neal, Boyer’s dynamic personality and straightforwardness left a “tremendous impact” on UT.
“I think he’ll be known as a strong, fearless and tireless advocate for the faculty,” Niedzielski said.
O’Neal said one of his strongest memories of Boyer was his first day working at UT, when Boyer was yelling at a student athlete to go to class.
“He was about 5 feet 10 inches [tall] and this young man he was speaking forcefully to was 3 to 4 inches taller and heavier than him,” O’Neal said. “He was passionate no matter what the obstacles [were].”
According to Peter Boyer, his father’s ashes will be spread in different places around England, as well as Hannibal, Missouri.
Numerous students and faculty friends came to Boyer’s funeral to pay their respects.
“Tons of students and friends came to the funeral. It was nice to hear from people we never knew telling us how he taught and changed their lives,” Peter Boyer said.
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