Clifford Eli "Cliff" Bryan

1940 - 2017

Clifford "Cliff" Eli Bryan
April 2, 1940 - November 22, 2017
Longtime resident of Pocatello, Idaho and beloved professor at Idaho State University, Professor Clifford "Cliff" Eli Bryan, departed this earth peacefully in his home on November 22, 2017. He was surrounded by his loved ones.
Born in Montezuma, Iowa on April 2, 1940, Cliff didn't have any idea that a farm kid from a small rural town of 1,400 would touch the lives of so many people over the course of his life.
During high school, Cliff sang in the school choir and played the base horn. After graduating from high school in 1958 in a class with just 38 students, Cliff went to Des Moines, Iowa to become a barber. Learning that there was a waiting list for enrollment and it would be a year before he could start his training, Cliff enrolled into cosmetology school because he was told by the instructors that male hair stylists were in high demand in Hollywood. Cliff didn't make it to Hollywood, but went to work in Des Moines.
In 1960, Cliff enlisted in the United States Army and spent the next three years stationed at the Schofield Barracks Army Base in Oahu, Hawaii. In the Army, he took night classes, beginning with a class in Sociology. He was discharged from the army in 1963 with twelve college credits completed. He then applied to the small Quaker college known as William Penn College in Oskaloosa, Iowa, was an honor student, on the Dean's list. He obtained scholarships in music, singing in the school choir and playing the tuba for the William Penn Marching Band. Cliff also worked at night for the Oskaloosa Herald Newspaper and became a featured writer for the newspaper by the time he graduated with a Bachelor's degree in Sociology in 1966. He began his studies in the graduate program for Sociology and Criminology in 1967 at Western Michigan University. Cliff excelled in his studies and sang in the college choir. By 1970, Cliff had obtained his Master's Degree and his Doctorate Degree in Sociology and Criminology.
In the spring of 1970 Cliff was hired by Idaho State University and began teaching in the fall of 1970. He retired from Idaho State University in May of 2000. During his thirty years of teaching at I.S.U., he taught over 10, 000 students and an additional 2,000 police officers through the P.O.S.T. Academy. He was the first professor at Idaho State University to be recognized as the Teacher of the Year. In 2014, Cliff received the Professor of the Century award from the Student of Color at Idaho State University. In 2016, Cliff received the Certificate of Silver Life Membership from the N.A.A.C.P.
Throughout his daily life, Cliff never stopped teaching others or learning new things for himself. After he retired from teaching, he signed up with two local theater groups in Pocatello, the Westside Players and the Community Theater. Also, Cliff worked closely with the Fort Hall Tribal Council and was instrumental in getting Shoshone-Bannock students to attend Idaho State University. He helped their families to realize the importance of obtaining a higher education, something Cliff took great pride in facilitating.
Cliff was an avid reader, loved to garden, and was a friend to anything with fur or feathers. He maintained homes in Pocatello and Lava Hot Springs. His friends were many and they came from every walk of life. Cliff supported community causes and campus events. He was an active advocate for the rights of the LBGTQ community, women's rights, migrant workers, minorities, the homeless, and the elderly.
He was a person who was known for his kindness and helping others without any expectation of reciprocity. He had a friendly smile, an uncommon laugh, and he loved to wear tie-died shirts and a variety of hats. He was always concerned about why so many people worked so hard to hurt each other. Cliff believed that it was important to look for the good around us and to practice kindness whenever we could to any animal or human who was in need.
Cliff is survived by his two daughters, Virginia Bryan of Kalamazoo, Michigan and Tracy (Jeff) Gillette of Augusta, Georgia, along with grandchildren Jason, Sarah, Nick, and Cassie, and two great grandchildren, Haylee and John. Cliff is also survived by his high school sweetheart and partner for the last eight years of his life, Reta Scott. Cliff lived his life believing "one's work and leisure should be the same and what you get from work should be so fulfilling that you don't have to do something else for leisure." That is how he lived his life. Cliff, up to the end of his life, was always the consummate educator. A celebration of Cliff's life will be held at 2:30 P.M. on Sunday, December 10, 2017, at the First National Bar and Grill, 232 W. Center St., Pocatello, Idaho. Pot Luck dishes are appreciated. People can feel free to wear "tie-dye", suspenders and hats, reminiscent of Cliff's unique and favorite fashion style.