Lonnie L. Willis

Lonnie was the best teacher I had a Boise State University. I'll always be thankful for how he pulled me out of my shell to become an active student who stayed and finished my college degree.

Lonnie's door was always open and his greeting brought me joy. When I graduated from BSU with a degree in English, I hoped to grow into this man who had shaped me through his passion for the written word and his understanding of a farm boy from a small town. I am so much the educator that I am today and now the middle-aged man because of Lonnie. I will honor your memory for the length of my days with thanksgiving. Lonnie Man.

I had the pleasure of being Lonnie's student and, eventually, his (adjunct) colleague in the BSU English Department. Lonnie was an absolutely unforgettable teacher and a treasure of a human being.

He was one of the best teachers I ever had and then a terrific mentor when I started teaching at Boise State. It was always a treat to talk with Lonnie and his comments in faculty meetings were always insightful and usually hilarious. Carol--my thoughts are with you.

A true gentleman, in the best sense of the word, and a valued colleague. There was nobody else at Boise State quite like you, Lonnie.

I did not talked to Lonnie much, but I talked to Carol. I could tell that they were the best of friends. He will be greatly missed.

I'm so sorry to hear of Lonnie's passing. He touched many lives and will be missed. My thoughts are with his family and friends.

Lonnie educated me with his amazing film series in the SPEC--what an impression his choices made on this new music prof! His introduction to Rainer Werner Fassbinder and many others made Boise seem like an interesting place to be in the early 80s. Thank you, Lonnie, for your life of service in teaching and your many kindnesses.

Carol, we're so sorry to hear of your loss. Lonnie was a great educator, a fine wit and a very special human being. We were both blessed to have taken classes from him at BSU and will never forget him.