OCU School of Religion plans to dedicate a tree and a bench on campus in the name of former professor Dr. John Starkey.
Starkey died due to cancer in January of 2020. The interfaith community on campus raised money to create a dedication in his name. The tree and bench will be located outside the Bishop W. Angie Smith Chapel on the quad. The dedication is scheduled for 1 p.m. May 6.
Elizabeth Horton-Ware, director of religious life, said she felt it was important to have something students can look at to remember him.
“We created a scholarship in his honor. That’s where a lot of the funds went to. But we also wanted something tangible that people could look at and physically see and touch”, Horton- Ware said. “That’s where the tree and bench idea came into play. This way, students can have both.”
Starkey taught at OCU for 21 years before his passing, and even during his diagnosis, his support and aid for his students never wavered.
Genna Parr, religion sophomore, said she remembers hearing about her friends talking about Starkey.
“They would have his class and would always talk about him. Although I only met him once or twice, I feel like I knew him,” Parr said.
Parr works in the Wimberly School of Religion and has been organizing his books. She said even though she’d only briefly met him, she’s getting the chance to learn more about him.
“I’ve learned so much. He was always learning, which I think is partial to why he was such an amazing professor. He has history books, psychology books, all of these different varying subjects that he was clearly reading and learning about,” Parr said.
Olivia Clerk, religion senior, said a memorial tree being planted is perfect.
“You would always find him under a tree or around a tree. There’s stories and stories of him just sitting outside on the quad. He felt a special connection to trees and was always connecting them to faith,” Clerk said.
Clerk had Starkey for multiple classes throughout her time at OCU. She said she mostly remembers Starkey for how caring he was for every single one of his students.
“That’s his legacy. He was so interested in all of his students,” Clerk said.
Clerk said Starkey was the professor who first made an impact on her after being homeschooled.
“Starkey immediately got to know me. He was personal, and he felt connections were so important. You could easily just talk in the hall for five minutes with him, but just as easily spend an hour talking with him in his office,” Clerk said. “I’m so honored that I got the opportunity to learn under him and have him teaching my classes.”
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