I had Dr. Homze for one class – Spring 1969.

I was not a history major, but wanted to take his class, History of Nazi Germany, 1933-45. Dr. Homze didn’t know me, but he treated me just like I was one of his “own” in the History Dept. His presentations were first-rate, and he was a genuinely caring and authentic person.

I went on and got my doctorate in economics, but that one class, that one semester, and that one person made a difference in my life, how I teach, and how treat my students.

Dr. Homze was as first-rate teacher, a great person, and I really respected him.

Dear Heidi & Eric,

I had the opportunity to meet you at Ed's retirement dinner. I had the honor of being one of the speakers for the event and so I got to be at your table. I enjoyed your father as both a professor and a person. My condolences to you.

Sincerely,

John Pederson

I knew Dr. Homze when I was an undergrad at UNL. He loved grad students and he loved to recruit undergrads into the ranks! I was fortunate enough to have a one-on-one reading course with him. We had many discussions in his office which, despite years of a smoking ban, had the great smell of pipe tobacco. My favorite memory of him is walking outside the Union one day. The wind blew, I smelled strong pipe tobacco and in the distance saw Homze strolling down the sidewalk. His encouragement helped me achieve many things. I loved how his answer to every proposed project, endeavour, etc, was always, "Let's do it!"

Dear Eric, Heidi, and Mary Alice;
Who would've thot when I was a lowly teenager, way back when, that my best friend's older brother would grow up to be such a special person. To us he was just a BIB Brother, that teased us. I grew up with the Homze family, and I am still close to them. My heart-felt sorrow for all the people who loved him, and will miss him so.

Dear Eric,Heidi, and Alice (sister).
Little did I know, as a boyhood friend of Ed's in Canton, Ohio, that he would so distinguish himself in the field of German history and as a noted professor and esteemed advisor. (And to think that the steel and bearings from our city helped defeat Hitler's armies.) It doesn't surprise me, though, because Ed was always reading and had an insatiable curiosity. Ed was an interesting and thoughtful boy with a gentle disposition.
How ironic that Ed lived throughout his teaching career in a city with the same name as our Lincoln high school in Canton.
I fondly recall 1)Scout campouts together, 2)Filling the Homze basement to the ceiling with newspapers we Scouts collected for the war effort, 3)Playing 'Hearts' in his home with several other Scouts on Sat. evenings, 4)his helping me deliver the Canton Repository, and 5)Ed's teaching me to throw a curved baseball.
My deepest regret is never having seen Ed again after we headed off to college 60 years ago.
Ed, RIP.