I can still remember part of my freshman orientation at what was then Cumberland College when I started there in the fall of 1989.
Back then orientation only lasted about two hours with a few administrators making short speeches. I remember a short skit or two that were presented by the student government association, which featured student government vice-president David Paul Estes, who is now owner of Whitley Broadcasting.
An administrator then called our names and someone led small groups of us to meet with our freshman faculty advisors for the first time.
Out of the three people in my group, I let the two young women go in front of me.
Then it was my turn to meet with the advisor. I can still remember the first words out of his mouth.
“There is a note in your file. Dr. Broome wants you to take his world civilization class,” my faculty advisor said.
To this day, I can still remember the single sentence that flashed into my mind at that moment, “Who the heck is Dr. Broome?”
As I was soon to find out, Dr. Broome was Dr. John Broome, a professor of history and religion. My advisor explained that Dr. Broome had been my dad’s world civilization teacher in college and he wanted me to take his class.
Now truth be told, I would have much preferred to have taken U.S. History, but when you are a freshman completely new to college and a professor is personally asking for you to take their class, then how are you going to say no.
I will forever be glad that I took Dr. Broome for not only for the first part of world civilization, but for the second part of it too my second semester in college.
He was a smart, good man, and a great teacher.
Often times, when have a professor in class, it is pretty obvious by things they say and do whether their political leanings are more liberal or more conservative. This wasn’t the case with Dr. Broome. He made unbiased presentations and made you think.
It was only years after I had taken his class that I ever learned what his political leanings actually were.
Dr. Broome was one of those professors, who I have kept in touch with over the years.
I always enjoyed bumping into him on the street or at a ballgame or over at what is now the University of the Cumberlands, if I happened to be over there.
He was an avid reader of the newspaper and of my columns, not that he always agreed with them mind you.
I can recall bumping into him on a handful of occasions and having spirited discussions about my column, and how he thought I was incorrect about a particular subject. It was also fun to talk and debate with him.
On more than one occasion, I invited him to write a letter to the editor in response to one of my columns, and I can remember at least two occasions when he did so and did so quite well I might add.
Dr. Broome was one of those, who always remembered your name. When I would bump into him, he would often ask about my dad, who had him in class and went on to teach high school social studies for 28 years.
The last two times that I can remember seeing Dr. Broome was at a Williamsburg High School football game, and the second to last time was a truly memorable occasion.
Dr. Broome would usually sit in a chair inside the fence near one of the endzones close to the field and the action.
On one play, the action headed straight towards where he was sitting out of bounds. He got bowled over like a bowling pin by both the offensive and defensive players involved in the play.
It hurt to watch!
After the whistle blew, the players involved rushed over to check on him.
This 80-something year old just bounced right up like nothing had happened, and with a smile on his face, if I recall correctly.
At the age of 54, I can assure you that I would not have bounced back nearly that quickly had I been in that situation.
Dr. Broome passed away on Feb. 19 at the age of 90. He was ready to go, and to be reunited with his dearly departed wife, Mavis, who had preceded him in death by a few years. It is my understanding that he did a fabulous job when he preached her funeral.
It was only after his passing that I got a bigger picture of what all Dr. Broome had been involved in during his life when I read a story that the university released about him. Here are a few lines from it.
Throughout his time at Cumberlands, Dr. Broome held numerous roles, including Professor of History and Religion, Director of Academic Advising, Athletic Eligibility Coordinator/Faculty Athletic Representative, Black Student Union Advisor, and Young Democrats Sponsor. He also served on the College Athletic Committee and was a member of the national council of NAIA FARs, even holding the position of FAR president for one year.
Dr. Broome also was an inaugural member of the WYMT-TV Mountain Classic Basketball Committee, persuaded to join due to its work providing scholarship opportunities for students in the mountainous regions of Kentucky. He proudly served on this committee for twenty-five years.
Dr. Broome’s tireless dedication to his work and students earned him numerous official recognitions. His accolades include the Distinguished Teaching Award, the SGA Honored Professor Award, a 2000 induction to Cumberlands’ Athletic Hall of Fame, and the 2018 Honorary Alumnus Award, among others.
Dr. Broome made a lasting impact on those, who knew him. We should all count ourselves lucky if people can say we made half that impact after we are gone.
Rest in peace Dr. Broome. You have earned it, but your little corner of the world will be a little sadder without you in it.
