Dr. Eckley was a 1947 graduate of Alliance High School. While in high school he was a talented trumpet player in the marching band and was known for playing taps at various memorial events.
His love for playing trumpet sparked his interest in all music and he was self-taught in many other instruments. He travelled to Slovenia, Bulgaria, Turkey, and many other European countries as a lecturer and visiting professor.
After graduation he was stationed in Fort Belvoir in Alexandria Virginia. He then attended the University of Mount Union and graduated in 1952. He went on to earn his Masters from Pennsylvania State University and received his Ph.D. from Case Western University.
Dr. Eckley had a career in education that began in Ravenna Township High School as an English and French teacher. He also taught in Euclid, Ohio, before becoming an assistant professor at Hollins College and then a professor at Drake University until 1984. In 1985 he began teaching at the Colorado School of Mines in Colorado until his retirement in 1999. He received the Emeritus and Colorado School of Mines Medal for Exemplary Service in 2004. He taught military history and he published more than 50 academic articles and monographs and published two books of literary criticism. He also published a biography of President Herbert Hoover and a guide to the poetry of E. E. Cummings as well as several other books.
Dr. Eckley was married to Grace Eckley for 63 years. She said Alliance High School helped to give him the opportunities to develop his talents in many areas and discover himself. The couple have three children, Douglas, who is a professor at George Mason University, Stephen, an attorney in Iowa and President of the Iowa State Bar Association and Timothy, an attorney in Iowa as well.
Dr. Eckley passed away August 14, 2017. He was nominated by his wife, Grace Eckley
His love for playing trumpet sparked his interest in all music and he was self-taught in many other instruments. He travelled to Slovenia, Bulgaria, Turkey, and many other European countries as a lecturer and visiting professor.
After graduation he was stationed in Fort Belvoir in Alexandria Virginia. He then attended the University of Mount Union and graduated in 1952. He went on to earn his Masters from Pennsylvania State University and received his Ph.D. from Case Western University.
Dr. Eckley had a career in education that began in Ravenna Township High School as an English and French teacher. He also taught in Euclid, Ohio, before becoming an assistant professor at Hollins College and then a professor at Drake University until 1984. In 1985 he began teaching at the Colorado School of Mines in Colorado until his retirement in 1999. He received the Emeritus and Colorado School of Mines Medal for Exemplary Service in 2004. He taught military history and he published more than 50 academic articles and monographs and published two books of literary criticism. He also published a biography of President Herbert Hoover and a guide to the poetry of E. E. Cummings as well as several other books.
Dr. Eckley was married to Grace Eckley for 63 years. She said Alliance High School helped to give him the opportunities to develop his talents in many areas and discover himself. The couple have three children, Douglas, who is a professor at George Mason University, Stephen, an attorney in Iowa and President of the Iowa State Bar Association and Timothy, an attorney in Iowa as well.
Dr. Eckley passed away August 14, 2017. He was nominated by his wife, Grace Eckley