The University of West Florida Department of History hired me in 1990 to teach courses in modern European history as well as the history of East-Central Europe and the Balkans. Bill Coker was the chair of the department of the time, and he literally opened his home to me and my wife until we found an apartment. Over the next few years, he helped me navigate the realities of teaching and campus life at UWF. Through him, I had my first introduction to the history of the Gulf Coast, and I came to admire his dedication to research and his remarkable accomplishment of having assembled for Pace Library thousands upon thousands of documents pertaining to Pensacola’s history. With his passing, many in lost a friend and colleague, and Pensacola lost its first eminent historian.
Daniel E. Miller, Professor of History, University of West Florida
The University of West Florida Department of History hired me in 1990 to teach courses in modern European history as well as the history of East-Central Europe and the Balkans. Bill Coker was the chair of the department of the time, and he literally opened his home to me and my wife until we found an apartment. Over the next few years, he helped me navigate the realities of teaching and campus life at UWF. Through him, I had my first introduction to the history of the Gulf Coast, and I came to admire his dedication to research and his remarkable accomplishment of having assembled for Pace Library thousands upon thousands of documents pertaining to Pensacola’s history. With his passing, many in lost a friend and colleague, and Pensacola lost its first eminent historian.
Daniel E. Miller, Professor of History, University of West Florida
Comment by Daniel E. Miller — @