Prof. Emeritus John Hoyle Dies At Age 78 – Was 2012 Campus Muster Speaker
Prof. Emeritus John R. Hoyle, a 1957 Texas A&M University graduate who taught at his alma mater for more than 30 years, passed away Tuesday (March 12) at a local assisted-living facility following a brief illness.
Dr. Hoyle, who was 78 years old, served Texas A&M over the decades in a wide variety of ways — as a student-athlete on a baseball scholarship, teacher and researcher, author and, most recently, as the 2012 campus Muster speaker, addressing thousands of Aggies at a packed Reed Arena in the annual April 21 student-led ceremony to honor the memory of Aggies who died during the previous year. In earlier years, he was an invited speaker for numerous alumni-led Muster ceremonies throughout Texas and the nation, selected in large part on the basis of his reputation as dynamic speaker who spiced his content with humor and motivational stories.
Texas A&M University President R. Bowen Loftin issued the following statement: “Professor Hoyle was a great Aggie and will be sorely missed. He inspired thousands of Aggies through his teaching and speaking at numerous events, most recently at the 2012 campus Muster. He also was a tremendous ambassador for the university when he traveled around the state and nation—and internationally—in responding to numerous invitations to deliver motivational and related speeches at a variety of forums. Our hearts and prayers go out to his wife, Carolyn, and other members of his family.”
Dean Douglas Palmer of Texas A&M’s College of Education and Human Development, in which Dr. Hoyle served before his retirement, joined in offering condolences and citing Professor Hoyle’s many contributions to the university and to K-12 education, with an emphasis on working with public school principals throughout the state.
“Dr. Hoyle was one of the true veterans in the field of educational administration, and he will definitely be missed by his colleagues and the many students whose lives he so positively touched,” Palmer said. “As a teacher, researcher and author, his spirit and commitment to the profession was inspirational. Throughout his career, he challenged and encouraged students and colleagues alike to serve with enthusiasm and reach for excellence. I join in offering condolences to his family and everyone else who had the privilege of knowing him.”
Dr. Hoyle formally retired from the university in 2009 but continued to be involved in campus activities and was a frequent user of the exercise facilities at the Student Recreation Center.
In addition to his undergraduate degree, he also earned master’s and doctoral degrees from Texas A&M. He joined the Texas A&M faculty in 1975 after serving in professorial and administrative positions at three other universities. He served as high school teacher, coach and administrator in Odessa and Midland before beginning his career in higher education.
The Tulsa, Okla. native was an award-winning teacher and researcher and was prominently recognized nationally in his capacity as a professor of educational administration. He specialized in leadership training and assessment, and was considered one of America’s leading researchers and reformers in leadership education and assessment. He was an authority on the visioning process and futures studies.
In a recent national survey of education leaders, Dr. Hoyle was selected by his peers as one of America’s four “exceptional living scholars” in educational administration/leadership. In 1999, the National Council of Professors of Educational Administration honored him with its first “Living Legend Award,” and in 2008, the Texas Council of Professors of Educational Administration also presented him with its “Living Legend Award.” Additionally, he received the coveted “Golden Deeds Award” for distinguished service to Texas education.
He taught hundreds of Aggies, chaired approximately 120 doctoral committees and received two Distinguished Teaching Awards from The Association of Former Students.
Dr. Hoyle was the author of numerous scholarly articles, books and book chapters, as well as books with motivational and inspirational themes.
He was best known to countless Aggies — current and former students — as the author of a series of “Good Bull” books that focused on humorous stories about Aggies and their escapades while on campus. He joked that “the names of these students have been changed to protect the guilty.”
As a student, he was a key player on the Aggie baseball team in the mid-1950s and was a member of the 1955 Southwest Conference championship team. He continued in later life to be an avid supporter of the Aggie baseball team and a big fan of Aggie athletics generally.
Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday (March 16) at First Christian Church of Bryan-College Station.
Media contact: tamunews@tamu.edu.
