Donald Emmet Worcester

Donald Emmet Worcester, 88, an author, historian and retired history professor, died Sunday, September 21, 2003 at a Fort Worth hospital.Born on a ranch near Tempe, Arizona on April 29, 1915. He graduated from Bard College in 1939, which he claimed ruined him for cowboying.While in college he met and fell for Barbara Peck. They were married in 1941. He earned his Master's degree in 1940 and received his Ph.D. in 1947 from the University of California- Berkeley. He served on active duty in the United States Navy from 1941-1945. He taught at the University of Florida from 1947-1963, including a term as chairman of the History Department (1955-1959), and then came to TCU as History Department Chairman where he initiated the doctoral program in history. He served as Chairman from 1963-1972, and then continued to teach, ultimately as an emeritus professor and then an adjunct until 1997. He was known on campus for his wit, his editing skills, and for looking more like a cowhand than a professor.He was preceded in death by his wife, Barbara and their daughter, Betty.Survivors include daughter, Barbara Stephen and special friend, Ron Solberg, of Helena, MT; son, Harris Worcester and wife, Julie, of Aledo; grandchildren, Melanie Whitson and husband, Dennis of Dallas, Jonas Adler and wife Ashley of Austin, Tristan, Elysia, and Angus Worcester of Aledo; sister, Shirley Emge of Baltimore, MD; and a number of nieces and nephews.A Memorial service will be held 11 a.m. Saturday, September 27, 2003 at the Robert Carr Chapel, Texas Christian University campus, Fort Worth, Texas. Memorial donations may be made to the TCU University Advancement, Worcester Endowed Fund, TCU, BOX 297044, Fort Worth, Texas 76129.