Department Celebrates George Rable’s Career

George Rable in center with friends and colleagues.
Left to Right: T. Michael Parrish, A. Wilson Greene, George C. Rable, John F. Marszalek, and Lawrence F. Kohl

The History Department came together yesterday to celebrate the career of Dr. George C. Rable, who retired as the Charles G. Summersell Chair of Southern History last year. Dr. Kari Frederickson introduced the speakers, and moderated the symposium. Speakers included Dr. T. Michael Parrish, the Linden G. Bowers Professor of American History at Baylor University, Dr. John F. Marszalek, the Giles Distinguished Professor Emeritus at Mississippi State University, and Dr. A. Wilson Greene, the Executive Director of Pamplin Historical Park and the National Museum of the Civil War Soldier, and our own Dr. Lawrence F. Kohl. Drs. Parrish, Marszalek, and Greene spoke both about Dr. Rable’s impressive contribution to the fields of antebellum, Civil War, and Reconstruction history, and reminisced about their decades-long friendships and intellectual partnerships. Dr. Kohl emphasized Dr. Rable’s history of dedicated academic service, as well as his unselfish devotion to his students, and to our department. The common theme throughout the event was the high bar that Dr. Rable has set, as a scholar, teacher, and colleague. The History Department dearly misses his daily presence in ten Hoor, but we count ourselves lucky to know such a historian, and such a friend.

George C. Rable with Some of the Nineteen Doctoral Students he has Directed at Alabama
George C. Rable with Some of the Nineteen Doctoral Students he has Directed at Alabama