House Resolution 109

(As Adopted by House)

A RESOLUTION COMMENDING THE CONTRIBUTIONS OF PROFESSOR GEORGE ANTHONY CARBONE ON THE OCCASION OF HIS 90TH BIRTHDAY.

WHEREAS, Professor George Anthony Carbone, born on May 14, 1917, will reach a magnificent milestone on that date and turn 90 years old; and

WHEREAS, Professor Carbone served as a teacher and mentor who energized the intellect of the generation of students at the University of Mississippi that followed World War II.

WHEREAS, with insight and wisdom and a commanding presence in the classroom, Professor Carbone taught students the lessons of history of the Old World from which our ancestors and our nation came.

WHEREAS. though Professor Carbone's professional and academic career took him back to his native West Coast where his family lived, it is altogether fitting and proper that the people of Mississippi, honor and commemorate his 15 years of distinguished service in this state; and

WHEREAS, born in Napa, California, Professor Carbone lived for a number of years in San Francisco, California, and in 1940 he married Marguerite Rodoani and they had two children, Edwin Frederick and Karen Jones, twins born December 5, 1943; and

WHEREAS, Professor Carbone's formal educational achievements include a bachelor of arts degree from the University of California in 1939, a master of arts in history from the University of California in 1941, and a doctor of philosophy in history from the University of California in 1947; and

WHEREAS, while receiving his formal education, Professor Carbone served as a Teaching Fellow and a Junior Instructor in history at the University of California, was awarded a Sigmund Martin Traveling Fellowship to Harvard University for 1945-1946 and served as a Teaching Fellow in history at Harvard in the spring semester of 1946; and

WHEREAS, it was the good fortune of the State of Mississippi that on September 1, 1946, Professor Carbone became Acting Associate Professor of History at the University of Mississippi, rising to Associate Professor of History on June 2, 1947, and full Professor of History on September 1, 1949; and

WHEREAS, Professor Carbone left Ole Miss, at the end of the 1961 academic year, having enriched the minds and understanding of a special generation of young Mississippians; and

WHEREAS, through his years at Ole Miss, Professor Carbone taught a broad spectrum of courses in the History of Western Civilization, beginning with his annual offerings in History 101, From the Decline of the Roman Empire through 1688, and the Glorious Revolution in England, and followed in the second semester with History 102, beginning with the English Bill of Rights and focusing on European History from 1689 through the then present time; and

WHEREAS, Professor Carbone's freshman history survey courses occasioned a great awakening for so many who returned for his upper level courses in Revolutionary Europe, 1789-1848; European Diplomacy, 1848-1914; Russian History; and Greek and Roman History; and

WHEREAS, as a function of his eminence as a Scholar in Russian History, Professor Carbone served as host for a remarkable 1955 visit to the University of Mississippi by Alexander Kerensky, leader of the Russian Provisional Government following the fall of Tsar Nicholas II in February 1917, only to see his hopes for a democratically elected constituent assembly in Russia dashed with the Bolshevik takeover in 1917; and

WHEREAS, Professor Carbone served as faculty advisor to foreign students attending Ole Miss, mentoring many coming to this country for the first time; and

WHEREAS, notably, in March 1957, Professor Carbone welcomed John G. Adler and Charles Tilly, each a refugee from Soviet repression in their native Hungary the year before and Adler became Chairman of Adaptec, Inc., and has endowed a scholarship at the University of Mississippi School of Engineering; and

WHEREAS, during his years at the University of Mississippi, Professor Carbone was a member of the History Honor Society, Language Honor Society, American Historical Association, Pi Mu Iota, American Association of University Professors, Southern Historical Society and other professional organizations; and

WHEREAS, Professor Carbone has cherished his Italian heritage and in his credentials offered to the University of Mississippi, to show fitness for his new position, Professor Carbone listed that he was a Reader in Italian and Diplomatic History; and

WHEREAS, Professor Carbone flourished in special opportunities for study and teaching in the land of his forebears and from 1949-1950, he was a Fulbright Scholar in Italy, while on leave from the University of Mississippi; and

WHEREAS, for the 1955-1956 academic year, Professor Carbone was a Fulbright Lecturer in Political History at the Institute of European Studies at the University of Turin in Turin, Italy; and

WHEREAS, Professor Carbone's imposing appearance in the classroom, punctuated by premature baldness, generated the occasional freshman speculation that he bore a resemblance to Benito Mussolini, always drawing a smile followed by a gentle, but unequivocal assurance that he was no admirer of the fascist dictator of Italy, no matter how punctual the trains may have been; and

WHEREAS, in 1961, Professor Carbone felt the call of his family and home and accepted a position at what is now Portland State University, because of "his desire to be closer to his children and elderly parents," and so in the fall of 1961, he joined the history faculty at Portland State University, where he remains Professor of History Emeritus in the Department of Liberal Arts and Sciences; and

WHEREAS, students of Professor Carbone for those 15 years at the University of Mississippi have grown to maturity, pursued their diverse careers and life patterns in all parts of America, but many remained in Mississippi; and

WHEREAS, Professor George Anthony Carbone lost his lovely wife of 60 years in 2000, having previously lost his son, Edwin, in 1989, at the age of 46; and

WHEREAS, Professor Carbone enjoys his daughter, Karen, three grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren, who lovingly support him in all of his endeavors; and

WHEREAS, as a testament of Professor Carbone's love of Mississippi, he recently wrote to a former student, "Another memory I cherish is the basic courtesy and common decency of Mississippi students. I hope this hasn't changed"; and

WHEREAS, it is the policy of the House of Representatives to express appreciation and gratitude for great individuals such as Professor George Anthony Carbone, who enriched the minds and ennobled the lives of his many students, who in turn have made this state and nation a better place to live:

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, That we do hereby extend warmest wishes to Professor George Anthony Carbone for a happy 90th birthday and express great gratitude for his contributions to the State of Mississippi.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That copies of this resolution be furnished to Professor George Anthony Carbone, Chancellor of the University of Mississippi, and to the members of the Capitol Press Corps.