A University of Akron history professor known for his humorous style and connection with his students has passed away.
If you attended UA in the 1960's, 1970's or 1980's you probably remember 8-credit hours worth of "Western Cult." Dr. David Riede taught "Western Cultural Traditions" for decades, a requirement for incoming students. He even co-wrote one of the textbooks used for the course.
UA distinguished history professor emeritus Dr. George Knepper worked with Riede for nearly 50 years.
Knepper says Riede's humorous and relaxed nature was no act...
"His humor was pretty much a natural outgrowth of the material that he happened to be dealing with at the time," Knepper tells AkronNewsNow.
Knepper says Dr. Riede started at the University of Akron in about 1955, and rose through the ranks to become a full professor. He retired in the early 1990s.
Knepper says Dr. Riede wasn't just a fixture at the University of Akron...
"He was just a genuinely 'good guy', and he was very, very active in the community," Knepper says. "I used to kid him that he almost ran Cuyahoga Falls, and his church, the Immaculate Heart of Mary."
Knepper tells AkronNewsNow that in research for his book about the University of Akron, he calculated that Dr. Riede taught more students than any other professor.
