Ross M. Lence
Encyclopedia
Ross Marlo Anthony Lence, Ph.D. Indiana University
(1970), B.A. University of Chicago
(1966), was a professor of Political Science
at the University of Houston
from 1971-2006, where he was John and Rebecca Moores
Scholar and held the Ross M. Lence Distinguished Teaching Chair. He taught Political Philosophy
, American Political Thought, and American Government as a member of the Political Science and Honors College faculties. His edited volume of the works of John C. Calhoun
, Union and Liberty: The Political Philosophy of John C. Calhoun, is one of the foremost references on the statesman.
Professor Lence was the recipient of an unprecedented number of Teaching Excellence Awards from the University of Houston and the State of Texas. In January 2007, in memory of the late Professor Lence, the College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences at the University of Houston
renamed its teaching excellence awards the Ross M. Lence Awards for Teaching Excellence in the College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences.
Students of Professor Lence include former Deputy Secretary of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security Michael P. Jackson
; Professors Randy Strahan (Emory University
), James N. Gladden (University of Alaska), Gary C. Marfin (Rice University
), and Marshall L. De Rosa (Florida Atlantic University
); many public school teachers including Nathan Smith (Humble High School
); and current and former local Houston politicians Michael Berry and Orlando Sanchez.
on December 19, 1943. His father, Marlo, was a foreman on the Great Northern Railway; his mother, Nickie stayed home to raise Ross and his brother, John, before taking a job to run a photography studio. Ross graduated from Whitefish High School with a 4.0 GPA and was valedictorian
of his class. After completing his Bachelor's Degree at the University of Chicago, Ross studied at Georgetown University
, then at Indiana University under Charles S. Hyneman, who took Ross on a 15,000 mile, 5-year trip across America to give Ross first-hand experience of the country. In 1970, Ross researched at The British Museum. He began teaching at the University of Houston
in 1971, where he also served as Director of Undergraduate Studies in the Department of Political Science for 23 years. Throughout his career, Professor Lence was a perennial participant, leader, and director at Liberty Fund Colloquia. He died on July 11, 2006 in Houston, TX.
Indiana University
Indiana University is a multi-campus public university system in the state of Indiana, United States. Indiana University has a combined student body of more than 100,000 students, including approximately 42,000 students enrolled at the Indiana University Bloomington campus and approximately 37,000...
(1970), B.A. University of Chicago
University of Chicago
The University of Chicago is a private research university in Chicago, Illinois, USA. It was founded by the American Baptist Education Society with a donation from oil magnate and philanthropist John D. Rockefeller and incorporated in 1890...
(1966), was a professor of Political Science
Political science
Political Science is a social science discipline concerned with the study of the state, government and politics. Aristotle defined it as the study of the state. It deals extensively with the theory and practice of politics, and the analysis of political systems and political behavior...
at the University of Houston
University of Houston
The University of Houston is a state research university, and is the flagship institution of the University of Houston System. Founded in 1927, it is Texas's third-largest university with nearly 40,000 students. Its campus spans 667 acres in southeast Houston, and was known as University of...
from 1971-2006, where he was John and Rebecca Moores
John Moores (baseball)
John Jay Moores is an American entrepreneur and philanthropist, and the owner of the San Diego Padres.-Early years:...
Scholar and held the Ross M. Lence Distinguished Teaching Chair. He taught Political Philosophy
Political philosophy
Political philosophy is the study of such topics as liberty, justice, property, rights, law, and the enforcement of a legal code by authority: what they are, why they are needed, what, if anything, makes a government legitimate, what rights and freedoms it should protect and why, what form it...
, American Political Thought, and American Government as a member of the Political Science and Honors College faculties. His edited volume of the works of John C. Calhoun
John C. Calhoun
John Caldwell Calhoun was a leading politician and political theorist from South Carolina during the first half of the 19th century. Calhoun eloquently spoke out on every issue of his day, but often changed positions. Calhoun began his political career as a nationalist, modernizer, and proponent...
, Union and Liberty: The Political Philosophy of John C. Calhoun, is one of the foremost references on the statesman.
Professor Lence was the recipient of an unprecedented number of Teaching Excellence Awards from the University of Houston and the State of Texas. In January 2007, in memory of the late Professor Lence, the College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences at the University of Houston
University of Houston
The University of Houston is a state research university, and is the flagship institution of the University of Houston System. Founded in 1927, it is Texas's third-largest university with nearly 40,000 students. Its campus spans 667 acres in southeast Houston, and was known as University of...
renamed its teaching excellence awards the Ross M. Lence Awards for Teaching Excellence in the College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences.
Students of Professor Lence include former Deputy Secretary of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security Michael P. Jackson
Michael P. Jackson
Michael Peter Jackson was the George W. Bush administration's Deputy Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security, beginning in March 2005 and ending with his resignation in October 2007.-Private sector career:...
; Professors Randy Strahan (Emory University
Emory University
Emory University is a private research university in metropolitan Atlanta, located in the Druid Hills section of unincorporated DeKalb County, Georgia, United States. The university was founded as Emory College in 1836 in Oxford, Georgia by a small group of Methodists and was named in honor of...
), James N. Gladden (University of Alaska), Gary C. Marfin (Rice University
Rice University
William Marsh Rice University, commonly referred to as Rice University or Rice, is a private research university located on a heavily wooded campus in Houston, Texas, United States...
), and Marshall L. De Rosa (Florida Atlantic University
Florida Atlantic University
Florida Atlantic University, also referred to as FAU or Florida Atlantic, is a public, coeducational, research university located in , United States. The university has six satellite campuses located in the Florida cities of Dania Beach, Davie, Fort Lauderdale, Jupiter, Port St. Lucie, and in Fort...
); many public school teachers including Nathan Smith (Humble High School
Humble High School
Humble High School is a secondary school located in the Humble Independent School District in Humble, Texas, United States.Humble High School , which serves grades 9 through 12, serves the city of Humble, the Moonshine Hill area of Houston, and unincorporated communities north of Beltway 8...
); and current and former local Houston politicians Michael Berry and Orlando Sanchez.
Biography
Professor Lence was born in Whitefish, MontanaWhitefish, Montana
Whitefish is a city in Flathead County, Montana, United States. The population was 5,032 at the 2000 census. It is home to a ski resort on Big Mountain called Whitefish Mountain Resort. Montana Governor Brian Schweitzer hails from Whitefish....
on December 19, 1943. His father, Marlo, was a foreman on the Great Northern Railway; his mother, Nickie stayed home to raise Ross and his brother, John, before taking a job to run a photography studio. Ross graduated from Whitefish High School with a 4.0 GPA and was valedictorian
Valedictorian
Valedictorian is an academic title conferred upon the student who delivers the closing or farewell statement at a graduation ceremony. Usually, the valedictorian is the highest ranked student among those graduating from an educational institution...
of his class. After completing his Bachelor's Degree at the University of Chicago, Ross studied at Georgetown University
Georgetown University
Georgetown University is a private, Jesuit, research university whose main campus is in the Georgetown neighborhood of Washington, D.C. Founded in 1789, it is the oldest Catholic university in the United States...
, then at Indiana University under Charles S. Hyneman, who took Ross on a 15,000 mile, 5-year trip across America to give Ross first-hand experience of the country. In 1970, Ross researched at The British Museum. He began teaching at the University of Houston
University of Houston
The University of Houston is a state research university, and is the flagship institution of the University of Houston System. Founded in 1927, it is Texas's third-largest university with nearly 40,000 students. Its campus spans 667 acres in southeast Houston, and was known as University of...
in 1971, where he also served as Director of Undergraduate Studies in the Department of Political Science for 23 years. Throughout his career, Professor Lence was a perennial participant, leader, and director at Liberty Fund Colloquia. He died on July 11, 2006 in Houston, TX.