Liddle, William D.

Biography

Dr. William D. Liddle (1937–2014) grew up in Nashville, Tennessee. He received his BA from George Peabody College in 1959, his MA from Claremont Graduate University in 1961, and his PhD from Claremont Graduate University in 1970.

Liddle first came to Southwest Texas State College in 1963 as an instructor of history. He continued teaching history courses until his retirement in 2003. Liddle was involved in a number of university committees, including the Library Committee and Faculty Advisory Committee. Liddle was the Director of Graduate Studies for the Department of History from 1995–2003. He also served on the San Marcos Public Library Board for a number of years and as Hays County Democratic Party Chair from 1988–1996.

Liddle received a number of teaching awards, including Honors Professor of the Year (1977) and Alpha Chi Favorite Professor (1995). He delivered the university's ninth presidential seminar in 1981. The university named him Associate Professor of History Emeritus in 2003.

Texas 150 Oral History

Dr.  Liddle talks about local politics in Hays County in the 1960s and 1970s, especially the involvement and sentiments of certain voting groups such as Democrats, the Mexican-American community, and the Black community. He recalls controversial school board elections and the McCrocklin case. Liddle discusses issues of academic freedom that certain professors, including Bill Emery, encountered.