HONORING THE LIFE AND LEGACY OF DR. RALPH WATKINS

If I was to capture the essence of Dr. Ralph Watkins I would say that he was “A warrior of purpose”.

Ralph fought for things that mattered.
i) Social justice. He fought for those who society wishes to ignore or oppress.
ii) Excellence in teaching. He fought to bring out best in students.
iii) Representing under-represented historical voices. He fought to share their stories.

It is too easy today to assume that those that fight do so for negative reasons. Many people fight for themselves or fight to conquer others. Ralph was not like that.

He was quiet. He was dignified. He was self-effacing. He had a wicked sense of humor and was the master of the quick retort. But he had purpose and strength.

Ralph taught in the Department of History and Africana and Latino Studies since 1974. Dr. Watkins had been a fixture at the College and had taught courses in African American History, the History of Slavery, the History of the 1970s and American History. He served as Chair of both departments he taught in. He published important articles in well regarded journals and won several National Endowment for the Humanities awards.

I first met Ralph through his writing. When I first learned about my job interview at SUNY Oneonta, I duly looked up the publications of members of the Department of History. I still remember Ralph’s article on fluid gender identities in the writings of Faulkner. Though I am not an American historian, I was very impressed with Ralph’s familiarity and skill in using this important southern writer as a text for cultural and social history.

Getting to know Ralph as a person was an even greater pleasure. Ralph was a private person but still open to young new faculty. He freely gave advice and provided background history to current academic developments. He always had a twinkle in his eye. For a new assistant professor like myself he had the perfect personality. He took his profession seriously but did not put on serious airs.

One of the most pleasant memories I have of Ralph was a lunch we shared in the summer of 2007. Ralph had begun moving out of his office for his retirement (which sadly he did not have much time to enjoy). I met him for lunch one sunny day and we dined outside of Mills Marketplace at a table. We talked about our families and exchanged stories about the progress of the children in our two clans. We talked about the ins and outs of chairing a department. He told me some colorful stories of departmental and college lore. We damned all politicians and solved the world’s problems. And all with good humor. One family story he shared was of a relative who told him as a young boy that “A good day was a day when you had something to eat”. He said what an impression that remark made on him and how an experience like that helped give him a strong social perspective. He made only the most passing reference to his own illness. At one point he good naturedly told me that he had become a “borg” as he now had a permanent port in his chest through which medicine could administered or fluid drained. He was tired but happy with plans for the future. He was at ease and an excellent dining companion. I had no idea he would die so soon.

Let us remember Ralph as he would want to be remembered. He was a family man, a loving husband, a scholar, a teacher and a friend. He inspired and befriended people. He fought for things that were important.

He was a warrior of purpose and we all miss him dearly.


-Dr. Matthew Hendley
Chair, Department of History
SUNY College at Oneonta