MOUNT VERNON - Charles William “Bill” Heywood, one of the most distinguished figures in Cornell history, died Nov. 16, 2005, at his home in Mount Vernon, in the arms of his family, from complications of Parkinson’s disease. He was 84.
Bill was a Cornell College professor of history and dean of the college emeritus. He earned his bachelor of arts degree from Earlham College and his master’s and doctoral degrees from the University of Pennsylvania. From 1949 to 1953 he taught history at the College of Wooster in Ohio. He joined the faculty at Cornell in 1954 and taught American, Latin American, and European history. In 1966 he introduced the first Cornell course on African-American history. He was active in the American Association of University Professors (AAUP) and held offices in the national organization, serving two years as vice president. From 1983 until 1987 he served as dean of the college and, in 1994, as acting president for six months. He retired in 1987 and was a member of the Cornell College Board of Trustees from 1992 to 2002, when he became a life member. During his retirement, he co-authored the book, Cornell College: A Sesquicentennial History, with colleague Richard Thomas. The Delta of Iowa chapter of Phi Beta Kappa at Cornell College elected him as an honorary member in 1981, and the college bestowed on him the honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degree in 1987.
A leader in community affairs, Bill was on the Mount Vernon Board of Education from 1965 to 1971, serving as president from 1967 to 1971, and was elected to the Mount Vernon City Council for three terms.
Bill was born April 24, 1921, in Pittsburgh, Pa., the son of Charles Edwin and Marie Shrawder Heywood, and raised from age six in Dublin, Ind. He married Vivian Eleanor Yergey on June 30, 1950, in Wooster, Ohio.
In his roles as teacher, scholar, college administrator, and community leader, he was admired and respected for his compassion, warmth, fairness, humor, and humility. Above all he was a loving and dedicated husband and father, beloved by all his family and many devoted friends.
He is survived by his wife of 55 years, Vivian; son Philip and wife Paula of Minneapolis, daughter Ann and husband Philip of New York City, son Eric and wife Kristin of Los Angeles; three grandchildren: Ellie Heywood, and Zoe and Peter van Buren; brothers Robert and David Heywood, and sister, Marjorie Hornbrook.
A memorial service will be held at King Chapel on the Cornell campus at 2 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 27. A reception will follow. In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts in support of the library endowment may be given to the Heywood Fund at Cornell College, Office of College Advancement, 600 First Street West, Mount Vernon, IA 52314.
