Clyde Willis

            Professor Clyde E. Willis, age 74, peacefully passed away on July 24, 2017 surrounded by his family at his home in Murfreesboro, Tennessee. He is survived by his wife Irina, children John Willis (Tonya) and Amy Willis-Becker (Ben), grandchildren Colin, Harry and Leo, all of Knoxville, TN, his sisters and brothers-in-law June and Larry Wagner of Mexico, MO and Margaret and Bob Phillips of Richmond, VA, and nieces and nephew Mary Beth Mitchell, Sarah Dawn Hamilton and Matthew Phillips. He was preceded in death by his parents Andy and Evelyn Willis

            Clyde was a native of Rogersville, Tennessee, graduating from Rogersville High School in 1960. After completing a B.S. degree at East Tennessee State University, he received his law degree from the University of Tennessee in 1969. Clyde immediately embarked on his first career, working as an attorney for the Federal Trade Commission in Chicago before returning to Rogersville to practice law with Ed Hyder and then in solo practice.  Clyde also served as mayor of Rogersville 1975-1977 and briefly as general manager of Holston Electric Cooperative. 

            Clyde and his family moved to Knoxville, where he continued to practice law at Harwell, Baumgardner and Willis (later Harwell and Willis).  During this time in Knoxville, Clyde decided to follow his true calling to teach.  As he practiced law, he also worked toward and completed his Ph.D. from the University of Tennessee in 1991 and, thus, after 25 years of practicing law, embarked on his second career.

            Clyde taught political science and coached the mock trial team at Valdosta State University in Valdosta, Georgia for several years.  He also took advantage of two opportunities to take his skills overseas. In 1996, he served as Visiting Professor on the Law Faculty of Syktyvkar State University in Russia and the following year he received a Fulbright Distinguished Award that sent him to the Faculty of Law at Addis Ababa University in Ethiopia. In that strife-torn country, Clyde also served as a consultant for the Ethiopian Ministry of Justice.

            Since 1999, Clyde has taught in the Political Science Department at MTSU. As much as he loved the practice of law, and as proud as he was of his 25-year career in that profession, teaching was Clyde’s clear calling.  Clyde (NOT Professor Willis or Dr. Willis, just Clyde!) was a mentor to countless students, to whom he devoted his boundless energy, leading them in mock trial and mediation competitions at a nationally competitive level.  To the end, Clyde was proudest that his students were more apt to call him friend than professor.

            Clyde was, most of all, a loving husband, father, grandfather and brother to his family, and a devoted and caring friend to the many people who came into his life.  His loss to us is, of course, difficult to bear, but Clyde would certainly tell us that we will always be able to find him “inside the bramble.” 

            A memorial service for Clyde will be held this fall on the campus of Middle Tennessee State University at a date and time to be determined.  In lieu of flowers or other gifts, the family requests donations be made to the Middle Tennessee State University Foundation, care of the Office of Development, MTSU PO Box 109, 1301 E. Main St., Murfreesboro, TN 37132 designated to the Dr. Clyde Willis Scholarship, established in honor of Clyde’s service to MTSU and his students.