Pete Sessions: “there are persons of great importance in the lives of each of us. Outside our families, it is often teachers that have…”

“there are persons of great importance in the lives of each of us. Outside our families, it is often teachers that have played key roles in our lives. One teacher of mine, Dr. Gordon T. Chappell was such a person. He awakened in his students a great love of history. He taught the importance of rigorous thought, and helped us understand our heritage. On February 6, 2002, Dr. Chappell passed away. His death was a cause for sadness for the thousands who were his students at our alma mater, Huntingdon College. Although he had lived a rich, active and happy life, the recent years had not been easy. A year ago, Dr. Chappell was preceded in death by his beloved wife, Winn Chappell. The two of them lived in a modest home on the campus, and frequently invited students over for tea, discussion or work. Mrs. Chappell was a magnificent teacher in her own right, and was loved by her students as much as any teacher who ever served at Huntingdon. I took her British Literature course and it was a rich experience, indeed. There can be little doubt that I would not be in the Senate today but for the inspiration of Dr. Chappell.”