Converse Mourns the Passing of Dr. Thomas Reeves
Converse is deeply saddened to learn of the passing of Dr. Thomas J. Reeves, who passed away over the weekend. Dr. Reeves served as Interim President of Converse College after the resignation of President Nancy Gray in January of 2005, and until the induction of President Betsy Fleming in October of 2005. He was a member of the Converse faculty for 19 years from 1966 to 1985, teaching as an Assistant Professor of Religion, and serving as Converse’s Chaplain. During that time, Dr. Reeves also served as the Vice President for Student Affairs, and Vice President for Planning and Development. His departure from Converse was in 1985 when he was appointed President of Hastings College in Hastings, Nebraska, a role that he served in for 10 years.
“I knew Tom Reeves well when he was at Converse in his various roles,” said Dr. Thomas McDaniel, retired Senior Vice President, and former Charles A. Dana Professor of Education, Interim President, and Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, among other past roles at Converse.
“We all benefited from all that Tom did at and for Converse.”
Dr. Thomas McDaniel
Dr. McDaniel continued, “He was a popular professor of Religion, a Vice President for Student Affairs, a leader of our England Study Abroad trip with Charles Morgan and Jeff Willis, and Interim President. We shared our academic and sports interests, and we were both baseball stars in college as well. Students and faculty alike liked him and respected him in his many roles; we all benefited from all that Tom did at and for Converse.”
“Converse College has always occupied a very special place in my heart because it is where I began my profession as an educator,” remarked Dr. Reeves when he was selected as Interim President in January of 2005.
Converse honors the legacy that Dr. Thomas Reeves left at our institution, and we are grateful for his work, wisdom, and impact. He will be missed.