There are those in the world who touch our lives in a unique and special way; a way that impacts who we are and how we think. These are rare individuals who actually open our minds. They teach us how to think; they educate us about the realities of the world, and how to live in it. Occasionally they are friends, sometimes they are mentors, and often they are teachers. Sometimes, on very rare occasions, an individual fills all of these roles.

This week Gardner-Webb University lost a dear friend with the passing of Dr. Barry Hambright. Dr. Hambright was my faculty adviser and professor of Political Science, my major field of study. He taught at Gardner-Webb for more than 40 years.

Dr. Hambright knew more trivia than anyone I have known. He could recite baseball stats from decades past. He knew Shelby’s history as few did, co-authoring a number of books, collections of photographs and postcards of Shelby and Cleveland County. He was a political scientist, with a unique perspective of politics — Southern politics in particular.

With his vault-like mind of trivia and anecdotes, Dr. Hambright could discuss elections in a way that fueled my passion for politics. From Constitutional Law to the American Government, his classes were tough; always a lot of reading and writing, and always with a point beyond dates, numbers and names. Dr. Hambright taught America from the perspective of the Constitution, through the looking glass of voters and of elected leaders. More than two decades after graduating, I still enjoy re-telling his stories or reciting his favorite quotes of politicians. It seems fitting that Dr. Hambright should pass on Election Day. I am certain that when he met St. Peter, he offered some corollary on the historic proportions of the election returns of the day in North Carolina.

Dr. Hambright left it to his students to determine what we believed, but he required a rational argument for our positions — and he would often challenge them, teaching us to craft the debate. He always made certain that his students understood that there were people beyond the facade of the process.

Dr. Hambright was also a friend. Not just someone who would make time in his day to talk, share a story, or connect people and places, but one who was willing to wipe clean a misguided youngster’s slate and allow an honestly fresh start. He wanted to stay in touch or catch up with his former students, even to support a former student’s political campaign. I’m not sure, but I’ll wager he could remember the name of every student he ever taught; and he always enjoyed hearing from us.

Some years ago, Gardner-Webb used the slogan “People Who Care.” I never cared for the slogan, but I think they had Barry Hambright in mind when they wrote it. He cared, and the lessons he taught will continue to impact my life in a very special way.

I will miss him.