Baylor to Award Honorary Doctorate to Robert Reid

March 21, 1997

WACO, Texas -- Baylor University's Board of Regents approved today the awarding of an honorary doctorate degree to Robert Reid, professor emeritus, during commencement ceremonies May 17 in the Ferrell Center.
Reid, who retired from full-time instruction in 1992 after a 45-year teaching career at Baylor, is recognized as one of the leading historians on Baylor.
A native of El Paso, Reid's family has been closely tied to Baylor since its existence at Independence. His great-grandfather taught mathematics on the first campus and was influential in the early development of Waco University. Reid's grandfather was in the first graduating class of Baylor at Waco in 1887, and several other family members also have received their education at Baylor.
In 1982, Reid was designated as a Master Teacher, the most prestigious honor for any Baylor faculty member, based on a survey of graduates who were asked to name professors who had the greatest impact on them.
Reid served as chair of the history department from 1977 to 1992, maintaining a regular class schedule and heavy administrative load. He also served as adviser to the Baylor Chamber of Commerce, Baylor's oldest service organization.
After serving in World War II, Reid completed his undergraduate studies at Texas Western (now the University of Texas at El Paso.) He received a master of arts degree from Baylor in 1947.