2000-2001 Intercollegiate Debate topic

Ross Kennedy Smith ('82), the longtime successful Wake Forest Debate Coach (1985-2007) and Director of Debate (2007-2009 who lead the squad to two national championships, 2 final rounds, and four more final-four teasms, passed away July 20th, 2009. Memory of Ross Facebook site: http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=131439&id=601711158&saved#/group.php?gid=107618687381&ref=ts
Wake Forest Guest Book: http://www.wfu.edu/wowf/guest/smith/index.php
Pictures: http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=131439&id=601711158&saved#/album.php?aid=131439&id=601711158

John Gossett passed away in Dallas, TX June 7th 2009after a long illness. John served as a teaching assistant and debate coach at the University of Houston from 1974-1976, and then earned his Ph.D. from the University of Southern California completing his degree in 1979. Before coming to North Texas, he served as the Director at the University of Northern Iowa (1979-1981). Gossett was a member of the North Texas faculty for 28 years, serving as Dept chair for 17 years and as Dir. of Debate for ten years. He was a member of the NDT Committee from 1982 to 1990, and a member of the NDT Board of Trustees from 1992-2002, (serving as chair for four years). Dr. Gossett was a driving force in the southwest for debate serving as the district chair and host multiple times. Gossett lead the North Texas debate program to be a perennial qualifier for the National Debate Tournament.

Frank Harrison passed away Monday, June 1 2009, at his home in Galveston, TX. Frank was the Director of Debate at Trinity University for twenty years. During that time he was a tremendous coach, teacher, and friend to countless debaters both at Trinity University and within the debate community at large. At the 1961 National Debate Tournament, Frank was third speaker and final round participant for King's College. He later earned a degree from Harvard Law and served as a United States Representative for the state of Pennsylvania. Debate, however, was his passion. He was the 2003 Dr. Lucy M. Keele Award winner, chair of the National Debate Tournament committee, and host of the 1991 National Debate Tournament. Although he had success coaching throughout the nation, his heart was always with the American Debate Association where he served in almost every official capacity including president.

Michael Pfau, Professor and Chair, Communication, University of Oklahoma passed away March 11, 2009. Mike was the long-serving and extremely successful Director of Debate at Augustana College, SD in the 70s-80s. He earned a Ph.D. at the University and served 8 years as Professor and the Director of Graduate Studies in the School of Journalism and Mass Communication at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. He was department chair at the University of Oklahoma for a decade. Mike authored/edited 7 books, most recently, Mediating the Vote: The Changing Media Landscape in U.S. Presidential Campaigns (2007), authored or co-authored more than 100 articles and book chapters, and was a leading figure in the political communication field. Obiturary

Scott Nobles, 85, died Dec. 24th in St. Paul, MN. Scott & his partner, Jerry Sanders, won the first ever national collegiate debate tournament in 1947. Minneapolis-St. Paul Star Tribune Obituary

Herb James, Dartmouth – Legendary Debate Dartmouth Coach, pictured with 1960 winners Anthony Roisman and Sazul Baernstein

Matthew Grindy, Western Washington & Florida State – receiving his Ph.D. from Florida State, is sharing a piece of graduation cake by his wife, Amber Bell.

Melissa Matheny Mitchell, Emporia State & Cal State – Fullerton. Survived by her Father David Matheny and husband Frank Mitchell (Utah NDT participant)

George Schell, Baylor – 2nd Speaker 1960, Top Speaker 1961, Two Semi-Final appearances at NDT.

James Unger - Georgetown - 66, April 3

Constitutional scholar Laurence Tribe offered this tribute:
"For most of us during the crucial decade and a half starting in the mid-1970s - the decade in which many of us came of age or settled into our lifetime careers - Jimmy Unger WAS debate, debate as high art, debate as ritual, debate as relentless analysis, debate as bloodless battle. He lived it, breathed it, epitomized it, enjoyed it, perfected it, practiced it, and made it a permanent part of our lives. For all of that, and for the inestimable wit and twinkling wisdom that Jimmy exuded for so many years, we will all owe him a huge and permanent debt. May his memory live forever in and through those of us who cared about him and who were lucky enough to be his friends."

A Coaching Award for the coach of the top 1st round team was announced at his memorial service, May 3rd in Washington DC

Washington Post Obituary

John Wallen - Claremont - passed away on May 8 in California. John was an imposing force in debate in southern California and across the country. He coached many great teams at USC, Redlands, and at Claremont.

Joe Jackson, University of Central Oklahoma, 97

In Memory
Ross Kennedy Smith ('82), the longtime successful Wake Forest Debate Coach (1985-2007) and Director of Debate (2007-2009 who lead the squad to two national championships, 2 final rounds, and four more final-four teasms, passed away July 20th, 2009. Memory of Ross Facebook site: http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=131439&id=601711158&saved#/group.php?gid=107618687381&ref=ts Wake Forest Guest Book: http://www.wfu.edu/wowf/guest/smith/index.php Pictures: http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=131439&id=601711158&saved#/album.php?aid=131439&id=601711158 John Gossett passed away in Dallas, TX June 7th 2009after a long illness. John served as a teaching assistant and debate coach at the University of Houston from 1974-1976, and then earned his Ph.D. from the University of Southern California completing his degree in 1979. Before coming to North Texas, he served as the Director at the University of Northern Iowa (1979-1981). Gossett was a member of the North Texas faculty for 28 years, serving as Dept chair for 17 years and as Dir. of Debate for ten years. He was a member of the NDT Committee from 1982 to 1990, and a member of the NDT Board of Trustees from 1992-2002, (serving as chair for four years). Dr. Gossett was a driving force in the southwest for debate serving as the district chair and host multiple times. Gossett lead the North Texas debate program to be a perennial qualifier for the National Debate Tournament. Frank Harrison passed away Monday, June 1 2009, at his home in Galveston, TX. Frank was the Director of Debate at Trinity University for twenty years. During that time he was a tremendous coach, teacher, and friend to countless debaters both at Trinity University and within the debate community at large. At the 1961 National Debate Tournament, Frank was third speaker and final round participant for King's College. He later earned a degree from Harvard Law and served as a United States Representative for the state of Pennsylvania. Debate, however, was his passion. He was the 2003 Dr. Lucy M. Keele Award winner, chair of the National Debate Tournament committee, and host of the 1991 National Debate Tournament. Although he had success coaching throughout the nation, his heart was always with the American Debate Association where he served in almost every official capacity including president. Michael Pfau, Professor and Chair, Communication, University of Oklahoma passed away March 11, 2009. Mike was the long-serving and extremely successful Director of Debate at Augustana College, SD in the 70s-80s. He earned a Ph.D. at the University and served 8 years as Professor and the Director of Graduate Studies in the School of Journalism and Mass Communication at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. He was department chair at the University of Oklahoma for a decade. Mike authored/edited 7 books, most recently, Mediating the Vote: The Changing Media Landscape in U.S. Presidential Campaigns (2007), authored or co-authored more than 100 articles and book chapters, and was a leading figure in the political communication field. Obiturary Scott Nobles, 85, died Dec. 24th in St. Paul, MN. Scott & his partner, Jerry Sanders, won the first ever national collegiate debate tournament in 1947. Minneapolis-St. Paul Star Tribune Obituary Herb James, Dartmouth – Legendary Debate Dartmouth Coach, pictured with 1960 winners Anthony Roisman and Sazul Baernstein Matthew Grindy, Western Washington & Florida State – receiving his Ph.D. from Florida State, is sharing a piece of graduation cake by his wife, Amber Bell. Melissa Matheny Mitchell, Emporia State & Cal State – Fullerton. Survived by her Father David Matheny and husband Frank Mitchell (Utah NDT participant) George Schell, Baylor – 2nd Speaker 1960, Top Speaker 1961, Two Semi-Final appearances at NDT. James Unger - Georgetown - 66, April 3 Constitutional scholar Laurence Tribe offered this tribute: "For most of us during the crucial decade and a half starting in the mid-1970s - the decade in which many of us came of age or settled into our lifetime careers - Jimmy Unger WAS debate, debate as high art, debate as ritual, debate as relentless analysis, debate as bloodless battle. He lived it, breathed it, epitomized it, enjoyed it, perfected it, practiced it, and made it a permanent part of our lives. For all of that, and for the inestimable wit and twinkling wisdom that Jimmy exuded for so many years, we will all owe him a huge and permanent debt. May his memory live forever in and through those of us who cared about him and who were lucky enough to be his friends." A Coaching Award for the coach of the top 1st round team was announced at his memorial service, May 3rd in Washington DC Washington Post Obituary John Wallen - Claremont - passed away on May 8 in California. John was an imposing force in debate in southern California and across the country. He coached many great teams at USC, Redlands, and at Claremont. Joe Jackson, University of Central Oklahoma, 97
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