Dr. Dwight L. Freshley, recipient of the North Central College Outstanding Alumni Award in 2000. (source: northcentralcollege.edu)
Dr. Dwight L. Freshley – Graduated 1942; Inducted 1992
Following his high school graduation, Dr. Freshley served 2-1/2 years in the European theater during World War UII. He then earned a BA degree from North Central College in 1950, the same year he married his college sweetheart Ruth “Jean” Reinhart. In 1951, he earned his MA degree from Northwestern University and Ohio State University awarded him a Doctor of Philosophy degree in 1955. From 1958 through 1959 he studied at Athens University in Athens, Greece on a Fulbright Scholarship.
Dr. Freshley has spent the last 40 years teaching on the university level. He taught speech and communication at Lehigh University and was also the debate coach. For eight years he was an assistant and associate professor and director of forensics at Vanderbilt University. Since 1963, Dr. Freshley has been an associate professor and a full professor at the University of Georgia. He has also served as a department head for 15 years.
Following his high school graduation, Dr. Freshley served 2-1/2 years in the European theater during World War UII. He then earned a BA degree from North Central College in 1950, the same year he married his college sweetheart Ruth “Jean” Reinhart. In 1951, he earned his MA degree from Northwestern University and Ohio State University awarded him a Doctor of Philosophy degree in 1955. From 1958 through 1959 he studied at Athens University in Athens, Greece on a Fulbright Scholarship.
Dr. Freshley has spent the last 40 years teaching on the university level. He taught speech and communication at Lehigh University and was also the debate coach. For eight years he was an assistant and associate professor and director of forensics at Vanderbilt University. Since 1963, Dr. Freshley has been an associate professor and a full professor at the University of Georgia. He has also served as a department head for 15 years.
Dr. Monica Pombo of Appalachian State University, recipient of the 2008 Dwight L. Freshley Outstanding Young Teacher Award. Dr. Freshley, right, is a professor emeritus from the University of Georgia. (Source: news.appstate.edu
From 1970 to 1973 he served as editor of the Southern Speech Journal. Twenty of his articles have been published in regional and national journals. Dr. Freshley has co-authored five books on speech communications in society, organizational communications, and speech analysis.
Dr. Freshley is a member of Phi Beta Kappa National Honor Society, the American Association of University Professors, and the National Speech Communication Association from which he received the Distinguished Service Plaque.
In 1989 Dr. Freshley received a Presidential Award for Distinguished Service as president of the Georgia Mental Health Association. He was appointed to a nine member national executive commission for communication administration. Dr. Freshley has worked for many years to erase the stigma against the mentally ill and has spent most of his life working with human relations organizations to fight discrimination and prejudice.
Ruth "Jean" Reinhart Freshley, 1928-2014. (Source: legacy.com)
Biographical update: Upon reaching emeritus status at the University of Georgia, in 1995 Dr. Freshley went to Beijing, China as a visiting professor at Renmin University. Additionally, since 1995 the Dwight L. Freshley Outstanding New Teacher Award has been given annually by the Southern States Communication Association.
Dr. Freshley is a past president of the University of Georgia Retired Educators Association. He was the first person to serve in all three top positions in the Southern Speech Association – editor of the Speech Journal, executive director and later president. He has received numerous awards for his outstanding service including the 1996-1997 Community Service Award from the Athens Retired Educators Association.
On June 11, 2014, his spouse of 64 years passed away. Survivors included Dr. Freshley, sons Philip (Marilee) Freshley, Bruce (Martha) Freshley, Doug Freshley and six grandchildren. Interment was at Evergreen Memorial Park in Athens, Georgia.
Dr. Freshley is a past president of the University of Georgia Retired Educators Association. He was the first person to serve in all three top positions in the Southern Speech Association – editor of the Speech Journal, executive director and later president. He has received numerous awards for his outstanding service including the 1996-1997 Community Service Award from the Athens Retired Educators Association.
On June 11, 2014, his spouse of 64 years passed away. Survivors included Dr. Freshley, sons Philip (Marilee) Freshley, Bruce (Martha) Freshley, Doug Freshley and six grandchildren. Interment was at Evergreen Memorial Park in Athens, Georgia.