Hank Tkachuk

I was the wife of Hank's Augustana debate coach. He was in a group of very talented debaters, but what I remember most, is that no one could"woo" an audience like Hank. When it came to audience debating he was a master. He also was funny, charming and a delight to travel with. My sympathy his family.

Hank and I were undergraduates together at Augustana College in Rock Island, Illinois. we were both on the debate team and I still remember Hank's sharp mind and quick thinking. He was a good friend and an excellent teammate. So many good memories.

I am so sorry to hear of my friend Hank Tkachuk's passing. I was in my second year of teaching at Concordia College when I recruited and hired Hank to be my assistant debate coach. I told him I hoped that he would become my eventual replacement as I either moved up or moved on. That turned out to be prophetic, as I did move on and Hank took on the job of Director of Forensics and Debate. He found a permanent home at Concordia, where his many former students and teams will always remember being profoundly benefited by his intelligence, wit, and constant positive encouragement. One funny memory. At one of our debate tournaments, Hank signed a debate ballot with an illegible scrawl which I, in the tab room, could not decipher. After figuring out which round the ballot belonged to, I realized it was Hank. Thereafter I assigned his judging duties to the name "Ijaschultz," the closest I could make out that scribble to be. I let him in on the gag, so he would know when and where he was up for the next contest to judge, but the teams involved had to wait for him to enter the room to learn who their judge was going to be for that round. We shared mutual love and respect for our five years together as faculty colleagues. When I left for my next job, I knew I was leaving the program safely in his capable hands. My love to Lynn and their family, and my consolation in our shared grief over his loss.