Professor Thomas James Pressly

I hsd hoped to see Dr. Pressly once more and tell him how much his classes meant to me...I have spent many years on the east coast, in the south, seeing many historical places associated with the Civil War. I too enjoyed the exposure to the sourc documents, diaries...He taught two unforgetable courses, one on comparative religions and one on comparative slavery...broadening the student's perspective to a worldwide view...one of my greatest compliments was when he asked to keep copies of my papers for a forthcoming book...He will be missed by so many of his students.

I took Dr. Pressly's course on the Civil War and Reconstruction in 1969. He inspired my first real interest in the Civil War, and showed me the particular pleasure of reading primary sources. Of even more importance was the way he conducted his class. At that time the campus was a hotbed of angry protests, and good manners were considered irrelevant by many. In contrast, Dr. Pressly's class was an oasis of civil discourse. The lessons I learned from him about the power of gracious good manners and mutual respect have served me well ever since.

My deepest sympathies go to his family for your loss.

Dr. Pressly was my favorite professor when I was a UW student. Being from Illlinois it was amazing to take his Civil War class and get a whole new perspective. I loved the way he had us read diaries from the time. I just cherish the memories from his class. It was a thrill to reintrodue myself to Dr. Pressly a few years ago at the History Awards Ceremony. He was so gracious, and his devotion to the UW showed. I was so impresssed by his establishing a scholarship for a high school social studies teacher. I look forward to that award being announced each year. Dr. Pressly will be missed but never forgotten!

So sorry to hear this; my family knew and respected him a great deal. His lessons to me were on the tennis court, rather than the classroom, but I learned a great deal from him nonetheless. Best wishes to his family.

Forty five years have passed, but I still consider the Civil War and Reconstruction lectures at Smith Hall with Dr. Pressly as my best college courses!
Living in Virginia the past 20 years, I feel privileged to be so well grounded in the Civil War and I have visited many of the major
battlefields that we discussed so long ago.
I shall never forget waiting for Dr. Pressly the morning of 22 NOV 63. We had heard that
JFK had been shot, but it was Dr. Pressly who
officially informed us that the president was dead. Dressed as usual in a gray suit, tall,
soft spoken, he gave an short, typically eloquent
tribute to the young president, and dismissed the class.
As a veteran of the Vietnam War, I was particularly interested in Dr Pressly's service during WWII. At the going down of the sun,
and in the morning, we shall remember him.

Len L. Funk UW 64 Arlington, VA.

Tom Pressly and my father, Scott Lytle, were good friends from the time they both taught at Princeton and then at the University of Washington. They played tennis most weekends for years. My mom remembers Tom and dad moving us from one house to another in about 1950, with a rented truck, making a huge mess and having a wonderful time.

I extend my deepest sympathies to Dr. Pressly's family. He was my favorite professor at the U of W, and the reason I majored in History. I kept in touch with him over the years and will miss him greatly.
Anne Burrows Reid, Rye, New York

Dr. Presley was my best and favorite college professor. I was in his first class at the U fo W, fall quarter 1949, Civil War and Reconstruction. Eventually I had him for three more classes. I worked hard and loved every minute of it.

Marian Olson, U of W, BA in History, 1951

Condolences to Dr Pressly's family. He was the best college professor I ever had! Douglas J Hadley, UW '65.