Posted by Peg Naples on May 15, 2001 at 18:14:03 from 152.163.204.177 :
Ed Powell was a man who was always true to himself. I don't think I've ever met anyone as open and giving as he was. My memories of him run the gamut from my brother's friend's dad,who ran around in a dashiki; to my own much respected Sociology professor. I couldn't even begin to count the number of hours that my brother, Tim Schrader must've spent at Powell's house growing up. One can only say that a familiar echo ringing through my house might sound something like, "Where's Tim?" and sooner or later someone else would answer, "At Jimmy Powell's." That's how it always was, and funny thing: Professor Powell never sent him home or ever got sick of seeing him around! I'm sure that the big brown house on Jewett Parkway was a real refuge for Tim. I only wish I could've somehow thanked him for that. One never even thinks of these things until its too late. As a professor Ed again marched to his own drummer. Never one to be constrained by such encumberances as Syllabi or Curriculum, his students were treated to visions of what was important to Ed at the time. This particular summer it was prison reform. In addition to a field trip to the jail and a guest presentation from a former inmate, the class never tired of the lively discussions that took place. I'm certain that all of us will never forget the 25 page autobiography he made us churn out either. The most gratifying treat for me of the course was several months later when I received a letter from Ed, telling me he had selected an excerpt from my paper for his latest anthology. Ed, we'll never forget you. Thanks for all you did for us.