Loy H. Witherspoon [1], 1973 March 26

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Identifier: OH-UA-WI0162

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Loy H. Witherspoon oral history interview 1, 1973 March 26

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Scope and Contents

In this 1973 interview, student Boone Wayson interviewed Dr. Loy Witherspoon, then chair of Religious Studies at UNC Charlotte, about a decision made by the faculty governing body in 1966 to retract an earlier resolution to bestow an honorary degree upon Governor Dan K. Moore. The decision took place after the university Board of Trustees refused to ratify a faculty resolution to bestow an honorary degree upon a Charlotte citizen (unnamed in the interview) at the same time as honoring Governor Moore, which Dr. Witherspoon speculates may have partially caused the reversal. He also speculates that some of the faculty were critical of Governor Moore and were no longer inclined to grant him the honor because of his handling of the controversial Speaker Ban Law.

Dates

Creation: 1973 March 26

Language of Materials

From the Collection:

The material is in English

Conditions Governing Access

Original audiovisual materials are closed to patron use. Please contact Special Collections to request the creation of use copies for particular items; requests will be accommodated when possible. The remaining materials are open for research.

Biographical Note

Loy Witherspoon was a 43-year-old man at the time of interview. He was born in Catawba, North Carolina in 1930. He graduated from Duke University with a BA and a BD degree, and from Boston University with a PhD in the New Testament. He was employed with UNC Charlotte from 1964 to 1994, where he led the Department of Philosophy and Religion, then established and chaired the Department of Religious Studies when it split off from philosophy beginning in 1972.