Gene Raymond Urey, professor of political science at Susquehanna University from 1965-1999, touched the lives of a great many people. Students and colleagues at Susquehanna grew to become close friends of Dr. Urey and his family. In 2001, friends and family members established the Gene R. Urey Memorial Scholarship Fund to celebrate his passion for teaching, for working with young people and for the study of the Constitution of the United States of America.

There are countless stories – from ridiculous to sublime – in which Gene’s unique wit and humor made indelible impressions. He often went the extra mile for his students, usually unbeknown to them (just as he preferred).

Perhaps two quotes from his former students best tell his story:

“I knew … what Gene did for me would change my life, and it did.”

“He cared for me in class. He cared for me after graduation. He cared …”

Gene’s untimely death in 1999 was heartbreaking for all those who knew and loved him. Susquehanna University is privileged to continue his legacy through the scholarship program that bears his name, and recognizes and rewards those students who, through the study of constitutional law and American government, have become critical thinkers, insightful analysts and articulate speakers.

Shortly after I came to campus, 55 years ago, I found that Gene Urey was my advisor and I was instructed to meet with him to discuss the future. I told him that I was prelaw but that I also had a strong interest in theater, radio and television. He told me that he was the prelaw advisor and that we would spend some time working on those plans together. He already knew that I was on the basketball team. We then discussed my course ideas for second semester. When I laid out my ideas for second semester I told him that I wanted to take Intro to Philosophy. He replied and as I remember it he said “OK” but in a way that I didn’t pick up on. He approved the schedule and second semester began but not before he decided to take over the management of my Grant In Aid. For the first semester I had to disinfect the men’s locker room three mornings a week at 8:00 am. I barely survived that. For the second semester the Poli Sci department took over and told me to report to the department table at the Chapel-Auditorium. I did that to find that my job was to sit there and when students came up to the table and asked to take a particular course I was to hand them an IBM card for that course. That was it. That was my job. For the entire semester. In a few days I went to the first class of Intro to Philosophy and the entire class was Juniors and Seniors. That should have been a wake up call. It wasn’t. I really struggled and got the worst grade of my career at any level. After finals I ran into Gene near his office. He asked me “How did Philosophy turn out?” He then gave me a look. I knew that he knew and he knew that I knew he knew. I learned that semester that he took care of his people and that he wasn’t going to tell me what to do but that there was would be hints along the way. They would be subtle. I learned how to read them. I didn’t miss any after that.

- John Klemeyer 

I was already a student at Susquehanna when Gene Urey joined the political science department. Freedom of speech was apparently more prevalent on college campuses in those pre “cancel culture” years. Although Gene may have been surprised to find that not all students were liberals (and that word then, like “conservative”, was more descriptive than pejorative) he was open-minded and welcomed all views provided you could offer a rational basis for your position.

If you could endure the hike to the third floor of Steele Hall, you could always have a polite debate (and if you were a coffee drinker—I was not—likely a cup of coffee as well) with Gene and, often, Jim Blessing too. In class too, all opinions, even unpopular ones, were welcome, but you had to be able to defend your position. Gene was a great sounding board for student-initiated “campus reform.” We did not, however, discuss Dr. Seuss.

As I look back 50 years, Gene, and the Susquehanna faculty in general, knew what tolerance for differing opinions meant. Society in general seems to have forgotten that today. I hope the Susquehanna community has not forgotten Gene’s example.

- Sam Clapper ’68

In early 1970, I was a 21 year- old senior at Susquehanna. The Vietnam War was not yet winding down and I was very draft eligible. I also had a young wife with a baby on the way. While I always wanted to be a lawyer, at this particular time law school had become my sole viable option.

In March of 1970 when the Dickinson School of Law rejected my application for admission, I was devastated, although not entirely confident that I deserved a different disposition. Gene, however, never hesitated, going to extraordinary measures and jeopardizing at least one important relationship, to make sure I was admitted. In the process, he made it crystal clear that whatever doubts I may have had about my ability to be successful, he had none.

Typically, Gene said little to me about the efforts he made on my behalf.

I learned of what he did years later from one of those at Dickinson who he berated on my behalf, I knew then what Gene did for me would change my life, and it did.

I always told Gene that I owed him a lifetime favor. I know there are others similarly indebted. With Gene’s sudden departure, we now have confirmed what we always suspected: these are profound debts that could never, and will never, be repaid.

- Bruce W. Ficken ’70