Thomas M. Jacklin Ph.D.

Still missing you Dr. J.

I had Dr. Jacklin for many classes at UB in the 1980’s. When I was growing up, so many of my history teachers concentrated on dates and battles and famous people. Dr. Jacklin introduced me to the concept of oral history – the history of common people. That was such a watershed concept, and it really brought history to life for me. He was so enthusiastic about his classes and his students. He was very disappointed when I chose to go to law school. He wanted me to stay in his field. I...

I never had a friend like Tom before I knew him or after we grew apart. I had always hoped that Tom and I could someday again watch heavy freights rumble through Flagstaff. When I'm up there and I hear that lonesome horn blow, I'll think of him. I'm not surprised at all that he became a much loved teacher.
Bon voyage, my friend.

Dr J was indeed a very good person. I took my first class with him in 1996 and took a total of 21 credits in History because of him. I just learned about his death a few days ago and I will never forget him and want to say that I will always laugh about the good -times that we had in his classes.

I was a student in the class that Tom and Gerry Kuncio held at the B&O RR Museum in 1995. It was the winter/spring semester and we would hold discussions sitting in an old railroad dining car or in the roundhouse, standing amid the ancient locomtives and rail cars. Tom always loved to hear the train whistles blow. He will be missed.

I knew Tom Jacklin for about 13 years, meeting him at the B&O Museum before going to UB (with his encouragement) to work on my degree in history. His enthusiasm for history, particularly railroad history, was what made him such an outstanding instructor.
I think it would be safe to say that Tom was on the cutting edge of the railroad history field. It was his wish and his mission to show that railroad history was a legitimate discipline in the overall history field, and I think he made...

May God bless Dr. J. and his family. I am sorry for your loss. Dr. J. was a wonderful person and an outstanding teacher. I had him in my last semester at UB. I needed to take some electives and the Cold War course fit in my time frame on campus. When I walked through the door that first day I was amazed. I am not a history person, but Dr. J. brought the class to life. He frequently talked about his passion for trains and every time I pass the B&O I remember our times in class. His passion for...

When I first met Tom was on one of the saddest days of my life. He and my cousin Debbie drove in from Maryland to attend the funeral of my father. It was a very quick visit, to which i was unable to get to know Tom at that point, but I remeber that he was very compassionate towards my family, one in which he really did not know. Over the next few years I got to know Tom much better at the yearly family reunions. Although he was a very serious man, there were several memorable times that I can...

I never knew "Dr. J." I only knew the absolutely funniest guy in Meadville, PA. I met Tommy in first grade and stayed friends through 12th. His days of drag racing are fondly remembered by the whole gang. I'm so glad to know he had such a loving family. He was a great guy!