Rice University is remembering Professor Emeritus of English Edward Doughtie, who died March 26.
Born in Columbus, Ga., in 1935, Doughtie earned degrees at Duke and Harvard universities and studied in England on a Fulbright fellowship. He joined Rice in 1963 as an assistant professor in English, was promoted to associate professor with tenure in 1969 and to full professor in 1983. His research areas were Renaissance English literature and Renaissance manuscripts, folklore and folk songs, and music and literature. He and his wife, Andrea, were masters of Will Rice College from 1987 to 1991.
During his time at Rice, he served in leadership positions by chairing the Committee on Examinations and Standing and serving on the national Certification Subcommittee on Academic Integrity for the NCAA for many years. He also served as editor of the journal Studies in English Literature and published three scholarly books and a number of articles and reviews. He retired from Rice in 2001.
In retirement, he began writing fiction and published several short stories in literary magazines. He also completed four novels that are as yet unpublished. Throughout his life he enjoyed playing viola and violin, especially in string quartets.
At Doughtie’s request, his family plans no memorial services.
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I took a wonderful class in ballads and folksongs from Dr. Doughtie as an English major in the early 70’s. I remember fondly his gentle manner and engaging teaching as he introduced us to the ballad traditions and then encouraged us to take that knowledge further and be creative. To this day, I share with my students the exercise he used to teach the oral tradition–sort of a musical version of the telephone game. I am sorry to learn of his passing.