Newsletter readers will recall in the previous newsletter that Mrs. Adeline Likes generously donated to Rhodes a number of books from the collection of Professor David Likes, who taught at the College from 1963-83.  In response to the generosity of Mrs. Likes, the I.S. Department had a bookcase constructed in Room 105 Buckman Hall (the Col. David H. Likes classroom) and solicited memories from those who knew and worked with Col Likes during his tenure at the College. 

(Editor’s note:  The College was saddened to learn that Mrs. Adeline Likes passed away in her hometown of Tyler, Texas at the age of 90 in early May.)

The following is a sampling of some of the responses we received:

Douglas Fancher (’64), who was in the first group of eight seniors taught by Dr. Likes, wrote “As Dr. Like’s first students we always have claimed that we broke him in! At that time the IS department was housed in Mallory gymnasium.  Those were not quite first class accommodations, but we all enjoyed ourselves tremendously. It was not until sometime later that "Dr." Likes became "Colonel" Likes or, I gather, just ‘The Colonel’.  The IS Department has obviously come a very long way from its beginnings in the gym.

The only time I ever got the best (completely inadvertently) of Dr. Likes occurred one day in our weekly tutorial.  Dr. Likes asked if any of the four of us knew who really created the German battle plan of blitzkrieg used so effectively in WWII. Without hesitation I said, "Charles De Gaulle." I was correct but it quickly became apparent that not only was Dr. Likes very surprised that someone other than he knew the answer but also very pissed off to find his little revelation had been upstaged. I am sure his salty tongue came into play, at least as a mutter.

Dr. Likes required that all eight of us take the Foreign Service exams and I was the only one not to go into that field of endeavor. At the time I planned on going to the seminary and becoming a Presbyterian minister. Instead I went to UC Berkeley and earned an MBA in International Finance. I have been involved in international business my entire career.

Sandy Feustel Koch (’74) wrote that she “realized later that he did more than teach us subjects; he taught us how to be little diplomats. I remember the great number of ambassadors and the like who would travel down to Memphis on his invitation to see the Mississippi River and it was our duty to help show them around. Usually there would be a luncheon upstairs at the Four Flames to honor the guest.  If you signed up and paid, you could go and learn the art of great conversation about great world ideas while munching on barbecue oysters. I suspect he personally picked up many of those tabs when we were delinquent.

I also remember the evening meetings of the Soviet Politburo in his library at his house. It was a senior seminar. We were all assigned various roles - head of KGB, Foreign Secretary etc. and we had to present briefing papers that I learned later were pretty close to anything you would see in the State Department. We really got into our roles. The Col. sat there growling and looking wise like Winston Churchill. (Was he chomping on a cigar?) Our regular old classes were held in Siberia in a tiny hot room over the gym.  (My, hasn′t the International Studies Department gained prestige since then?)

I went on to become a reporter, editor and high school teacher. I spent many years reporting from the Middle East. I got my break at an early age because the Col. had the foresight to push us into Arabic classes right before the oil embargo. I was never shy to take a diplomatic reception head on because of my time in international studies with the Colonel. Being edited to death on my honors thesis by the Col. also eased the pain later when national editors pulled out their red pens on me.  He was great influence on many of us.”

Helen Smith (’78), now an Assistant U.S. Attorney, wrote that “Dr./Colonel Likes was my department chair and adviser on my senior honors paper.  In 1978, to graduate ‘with honors’ in international studies required six higher level hours in I.S. as well as a thesis-quality paper.  The papers were heavily reviewed by Dr. Likes and his adjunct professors.  In 1978, this included Father Gerard Yates (who was on permanent sabbatical from Georgetown University) and Dr. John Copper, who had recently joined the faculty.  The papers were bound in brown and I still have my paper somewhere in my basement.  We also had one-year-appointment professors and they were very kind.

Despite being a senior, I had never really taken any writing courses in college and my writing skills were still at the level of a senior in high school.  In the days before the internet, students had to be familiar with the card catalog.  Because Burrow Library did not have an extensive collection and because it was not a federal depository, we had to use the Memphis Public Library and the library at Memphis State University. The research portion of the project was a time-consuming, laborious process, but by the end of the summer before my senior year, I had control of the research.  That left the writing.  I prepared the first draft of my paper, which had something to do with the War of 1812 and American moralism in foreign policy.  Perhaps I was overly influenced by the Man In the Light of History and Religion course.  The first draft was a disaster; even today I blanch when I think how overwrought that effort was.  One professor bought me a copy of Strunk and White and told me to read it several times. 

Dr. Likes never said anything directly negative about the paper or my writing or my topic.  However, he “invited” me to his home every Sunday afternoon for nearly three months, where he basically rewrote my paper.  Mrs. Likes graciously welcomed me into her home, which was a professor’s version of Southern Living.  The library was floor-to-ceiling books, on all four walls, with a large comfortable sofa and a writing table.  Dr. Likes prepared himself a very large drink (I believe it was Scotch and water), spread himself and my paper out, and we went to work.  His kindness and Mrs. Likes’ kindness was overwhelming.  

Many years later, I am a successful attorney who uses words to ply her craft.  I routinely receive awards for my writing skills, of all things.    In a very real sense, I owe my professional livelihood to Dr. Likes.  Those books that Mrs. Likes donated could tell many stories about students like me, who were touched by Dr. and Mrs. Likes. 

Robin Scott (’81) wrote “My most memorable quote from Colonel David H. Likes is ‘The road to hell is paved with good intentions.’  He was a great mentor and coach.  He and Mrs. Likes were a team whose purpose was the success of his students.  They welcomed me into their home and hearts.  He coached me through the Fulbright scholar and Rhodes Scholar processes.   Mrs. Likes worked with me on my personal statements for the aforementioned scholarships.  For my Honors thesis, they paid for a typist.  I cannot express how much he and Mrs. Likes contributed to my overall experience at Rhodes. For this, they will always be appreciated.”

Laura A. Frase (’82) wrote, “Ahhh, I was so glad to see that Mrs. Likes is still with us and the contribution she made of Col. Likes′ books is indeed marvelous.  I have a great story about him. When I was Junior at Rhodes, I decided I HAD to have a specific computer course (everyone must remember this is 1981—the computers were the size of desks and a computer course meant programming—yikes!).  The course was taught on the same dates and time as the required IS course I needed to graduate—Comparative Politics—and that class was taught only every other year.  Col. Likes said not to worry that he would "fix" everything.  I signed up for both courses and prayed no one would notice the conflicts in the schedule.   Sure enough, no one did and Col. Likes and I met at his home every Thursday night for "class."  We talked for about an hour about Comparative Politics issues and for the next hour we planned my career through law school and as an attorney.  He listened to my dreams and helped push them along—made me believe I could actually do this!  He even prepared a separate final exam for me for the class (which was much harder—I know, I saw the other final afterwards).  The memory is so precious to me because I was able to spend a great deal of time with a wonderful, intelligent, irascible man and got to know him and Mrs. Likes on such a personal level.  Dinner was often included and the stories flowed.  For all he had going on and all of his other commitments, he reserved that time just for me.  

Now I am a partner of a nationally known mass torts defense law firm, handling cases all over the country.  I don′t think my drive for law school and my success in life would have happened without Col. Likes.  I hope that somewhere he is looking down at me, smiling and is proud—I also suspect he is still complaining about my not taking any language

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