Phil Gingrey: “tonight I want to acknowledge the retirement of Dr. Mel Steely, a history professor and former colleague of then…”

“tonight I want to acknowledge the retirement of Dr. Mel Steely, a history professor and former colleague of then Professor Newt Gingrich. Dr. Steely is ending a 40-year career as a professor at the State University of West Georgia. Born during Roosevelt's America May 9, 1939, Melvin Thomas Steely grew up in Cedartown, Georgia. With an interest in history, Dr. Steely aspired to teach, attaining both a master's and doctorate degree in history from Vanderbilt University. He taught at Lambuth College in Jackson, Tennessee before moving to West Georgia College to teach Modern European History in 1964. Dr. Steely was the kind of a professor who would have no part of grade inflation, and a grade of 'A' in his classroom was well-earned. Despite how much he may have cherished the student, there was no fast track to success in his courses. Much like life, he believed you have to work and learn in order to achieve success.”