UM to Honor First Doctoral Recipient in English on July 22

‘Galatoire’s Biography of a Bistro’ by Marada Burton and Kenneth Holditch

The University of Mississippi will honor its first doctoral recipient in English, Kenneth Holditch, during his presentation at this year’s Faulkner and Yoknapatawpha Conference.

Holditch, a professor emeritus of English at the University of New Orleans who earned his doctorate at UM in 1961, is coming to Oxford for the 42nd annual conference to present a lecture on “Growing Up in Faulkner’s Yoknapatawpha Country.” During the program, Jay Watson, the UM Howry Professor of Faulkner Studies and professor of English, will unveil the Holditch Scholars Award, which will be given annually to a graduate student in the Department of English.

Holditch’s lecture is slated for 12:30 p.m. Wednesday (July 22) in the Faulkner Room on the third floor of the J.D. Williams Library. It is free and open to the public.

“The creation of the Holditch Scholars Award is exciting news indeed for the English department,” Watson said. “This award will be an important source of support for deserving graduate students in our program, and a lovely way to honor the distinguished career of the man who received the very first Ph.D. granted in English at the University of Mississippi.”

Ivo Kamps, UM chair of English, praised the efforts of Holditch and the university for the timely announcement.

“The English department is proud and pleased to recognize its first Ph.D. graduate, Dr. Holditch, with the creation of a graduate student award in his name,” Kamps said. “We are equally pleased that Dr. Holditch will be on campus for the announcement later this week, and that he will be sharing his work during the annual Faulkner conference.”

Watson asserted the fittingness for Holditch to attend and present his lecture at this year’s conference.

“That the announcement of the award fund will come during the summer’s Faulkner conference is another wonderful bit of serendipity, since Professor Holditch pursued his Ph.D. studies at a time when Faulkner was still living in Oxford and since he went on to become an accomplished scholar of Faulkner’s works in his own right,” Watson said.

To contribute to the Holditch Scholars Award, contact Angela Barlow Brown, UM director of development for special projects, at 662-915-3181 or ambarlow@olemiss.edu.

Courtesy of Nathan Weber and the Ole Miss News Desk