From the College of Charleston Department of Political Science
Today (Wednesday) the College of Charleston and the Charleston community lost a beloved teacher, mentor, scholar, and colleague. William V. Moore, Distinguished Professor of Political Science, died this Wednesday afternoon.
In his 37-year career at the College, Dr. Moore was, first and foremost, a truly devoted teacher and mentor. He held many different titles and undertook many responsibilities over the span of his career but he always identified himself as a teacher. His courses were invariably the first to reach capacity; one of the most persistent tasks for the chair of the department was explaining to students that there simply were no more seats available in Dr. Moore’s class. He always had an extremely large number of advisees and took on special responsibilities for student athletes, always mindful of the special challenges posed by pursuing both athletic and academic achievement.
A caring father and family man, Bill balanced the life of a teacher with an impressive scholarly output, a passionate commitment to College of Charleston athletics, and a willingness to share his expertise with both print and television journalists in Charleston and across the country. He was as much the voice of the Political Science Department as he was the voice of Cougar basketball.
Bill earned his B.A. and Masters degree from Southern Illinois University and his PhD from Tulane. He was a well-known expert on South Carolina politics, Southern politics, and political extremism. He was the author of Political Extremism in the United States and co-author of South Carolina Politics and Government as well as numerous scholarly articles, encyclopedia entries and publications on Southern and extremist politics, civil rights, electoral politics, campaign spending, and intergovernmental relations. He served as chair of the Department of Political Science, director of the Master of Public Administration program, Speaker of the Faculty, director of Maymester and Summer Programs, director of the Taft Institute for high school civics teachers, NCAA faculty representative, and Vice President and President of the Southern Conference. In 1997, Bill was designated as the SC Governor’s Professor of the Year. He has also been awarded the Distinguished Teaching Award at the College (1981) as well as the Distinguished Service Award (2000), the Distinguished Advising Award (2001), and the first ever Distinguished Teacher-Scholar Award (2001). Bill also served on the Board of Advisors at the Charleston School of Law.
He will be greatly missed by students, student-athletes, alumni, faculty, staff, and area journalists. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the William V. Moore Scholarship Fund, College of Charleston Foundation, 66 George Street, Charleston, SC 29424. The family will receive friends from 4 until 7, Friday March 27 at Stuhr’s Funeral Home, 232 Calhoun Street. A memorial will be held on campus, details will be provided in the days and weeks ahead.
CofC’s Bill Moore Dies at 64
By Robert Behre of the Charleston Post and Courier
Bill Moore, a veteran College of Charleston professor known for his political acumen and longtime support of Cougar basketball, died Wednesday after a sudden illness. He was 64.
Moore was known as a professor who not only knew his subject but also never failed to respond to students in his political science classes. He made it a point to return their papers by the next period, said The Citadel's Provost Sam Hines, who worked with Moore at the college for more than three decades.
"The hallmark of Bill's career has been his total dedication to excellence in teaching," Hines said. "He was mesmerizing, he was motivational and he was incredibly knowledgeable."
When former College of Charleston basketball coach John Kresse arrived at the college 30 years ago, he quickly sought Moore's help as a team adviser. Moore also served as the longtime public address announcer for the team's home games and president of the Southern Conference.
"Bill's work wasn't a job. It was a calling, a passion for working and teaching and guiding students," Kresse said.
Kresse would take prospective recruits and their parents to meet with Moore first. "He would talk about how No. 1, you'll hopefully come here to earn a degree first and get a solid education and then to play ball. ... It was always academics and pursuing knowledge and then playing ball, in that order."
Jack Bass, a professor emeritus at the college, taught, played tennis and regularly talked politics with Moore, and said his colleague was always there for his students, even after they graduated.
"He was very approachable," Bass said. "He had a great sense of humor, and he had a first-rate mind."
Moore co-authored the book "South Carolina Politics and Government" and also wrote "Political Extremism in the United States." His professional accolades included a Distinguished Teaching Award in 1981, a Distinguished Service Award in 2000, a Distinguished Advisor Award in 2001 and a Distinguished Teacher-Scholar Award in 2001.
He also served as Speaker of the Faculty and chair of the Political Science Department.
"Professor Moore's vast knowledge of Southern and American politics, sharp insights and historical references made him the go-to source for colleagues, researchers and reporters across the state and region," said College of Charleston President George Benson. "He will be sorely missed."
The family will receive friends at J. Henry Stuhr's downtown chapel from 4-7 p.m. Friday.