Professor
Dale G. Leathers died unexpectedly on June 4 of 1997. He is survived
by wife, Nancy (Director of Planning and Economic Development for Fulton
County in metro Atlanta) and sons Stephen and Greg. Professor Leathers
served on the faculty at UGA since 1974 and chaired the Speech Communication
Department from 1988 to 1994. He was a leader in his profession, serving
as President of the Southern States Communication Association, as editor
of its journal, and later as President of the national Speech Communication
Association. Professor Leathers left behind a remarkable legacy as
a challenging and inspiring teacher. He was a nationally prominent
scholar and author, particularly in the area of nonverbal communication
and impression management. Always concerned with the social utility
of his scholarship, his work often addressed pressing societal concerns
such as perceptions of justice in courtroom proceedings and qualities
of trustworthiness among political candidates.
Dale Leathers was especially committed to promoting
an understanding of human interaction among peoples who had not previously
been exposed to such concepts. At the time of his death, Professor Leathers
was working on a number of projects to promote communication studies
in the emerging democracies of the Russian Federation. He was unwavering
in his faith that the study of human communication could nurture the
spirits of democracy and open exchange of information in societies where
previously these had been suppressed.
It seems fitting therfore to memorialize Dale Leathers'
life and career by continuing to build on his noble vision of communication
studies. The Leathers family and the UGA Department of Speech Communication
are pleased to announce the establishment of the Dale
G. Leathers Memorial Fund to Promote Communication Studies in Emerging
Democracies. The Leathers Memorial Fund will be endowed in
perpetuity and administered by the National Commmunication Association.
It will support projects that foster interaction between U.S. and especially
Eastern European communication scholars and practitioners. The Fund
will provide communication, teaching and research materials to emerging
democracies, and will enhance appreciation in emerging democracies of
the uses of communication for decision making and conflict resolution.
Grant proposals will be solicited annually, and particular efforts will
be made to encourage proposals originating from citizens of emerging
democracies.
Friends and colleagues who wish to honor and preserve
Dale Leathers' vision for promoting communication studies in emerging
democracies may do so by sending their tax deductible donations to:
Please specify that your donation is in support of the Leathers Memorial
Fund.