{"id":909,"date":"2017-05-30T09:27:47","date_gmt":"2017-05-30T14:27:47","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/debsfoundation.org\/?p=909"},"modified":"2017-08-17T09:52:00","modified_gmt":"2017-08-17T14:52:00","slug":"passing-of-j-robert-constantine","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/debsfoundation.org\/index.php\/2017\/05\/30\/passing-of-j-robert-constantine\/","title":{"rendered":"Passing of J. Robert Constantine"},"content":{"rendered":"
Bob\u00a0Constantine speaks at a Debs Banquet<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The Eugene V. Debs Foundation is saddened to report the passing of Professor J. Robert Constantine, the last surviving founder of the Eugene V. Debs Foundation, who passed away at his home in Austin, Texas, on Thursday, May 25, 2017, at the age of 93. In 1962, he was the member of a small group who raised money and negotiated the purchase of the Debs Home from a local developer, thus saving the home from the wrecking ball. Bob served as Foundation Secretary from 1962 until 1983 and was a long time professor of American History at Indiana State University, retiring in 1989.<\/p>\n

Professor Constantine edited the 3 volume \u201cLetters of Eugene V. Debs\u201d, published by the University of Illinois Press in 1990, and prepared an abridged 1 volume edition, \u201cGentle Rebel\u201d that was released in 1995. He was also the author of numerous articles.<\/p>\n

In his role as a founder and the organization\u2019s first secretary, Bob worked tirelessly to restore and preserve the Debs Home, raised funds and built up the foundation\u2019s membership. For more than 20 years, he organized Debs Award dinners, handled the groups correspondence as well as completing numerous administrative functions and doing this all without a salary!<\/p>\n

Ben Hanford, the 1904 & 1908 Socialist Party Vice Presidential nominee created a fictional character known as \u201cJimmie Higgins\u201d. It was \u201cJimmie\u201d that performed the silent, unglamorous, behind the scenes work that allowed the party to achieve its success. Bob Constantine was a scholar, a friend and through his tireless efforts for the Eugene V. Debs Foundation, he was our \u201cJimmie Higgins\u201d!<\/p>\n

Thank you Bob and rest in peace.<\/p>\n

\u2014 Tim Kelley<\/p>\n

The home and museum dedicated to the memory of Terre Haute\u2019s own Eugene V. Debs (1855-1926) stands in the heart of Indiana State University. I remember the home, when it housed the Theta Chi Fraternity. It is amazing that the beautiful oak woodwork and glassed enclosed bookcases, which frame the fireplace in the parlor are so well-preserved, surviving fraternity party life.<\/p>\n

A few days ago, I decided to visit the Debs home after learning that my favorite professor from my ISU years, Dr. J. Robert Constantine, had passed away at 93 in his home in Austin, TX on May 25, 2017. Dr. Constantine taught history; I had him for numerous undergraduate and graduate course, since I majored in history and have my Master\u2019s in American history.<\/p>\n

Jed Smock (left) with Bob Constantine<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Dr. Constantine retired from ISU in 1989. For a number of years, I lost track of him when he moved to College Station, TX. However, in the late nineties we reconnected, when I visited him during one of my preaching engagements at Texas A&M. I was pleased that he was interested enough in my mission that he came out to campus to listen for about an hour. This began an annual visit with the professor, which continued after he moved to Austin; there we had dinner together whenever I was speaking at UT.<\/p>\n

Dr. Constantine was the foremost Debs scholar and was the last living founder of the Debs Foundation, which owns the Debs home and museum. I concluded that a visit to the Debs Memorial was a fitting tribute to my late friend and old mentor.<\/p>\n

One of the bedrooms is dedicated to James Whitcomb Riley; it contains Riley memorabilia, including poems of Riley and correspondence between Riley and Debs, carefully preserved. Riley stayed in the Debs\u2019 home, when visiting Terre Haute.<\/p>\n

I asked my knowledgeable tour guide about the friendship between the sentimentalist Hoosier Poet, Riley and America\u2019s most renown socialist, Debs. She said, Debs had the ability to \u201cforge friendships\u201d with people with other points of view.<\/p>\n

On the top floor, the walls are covered with murals painted by Terre Haute artist, the late John Laska, which depicts leading progressives, socialists and communists, including Karl Marx. However, in the midst of the pictures is a dignified portrait of Terre Haute\u2019s leading industrialist and philanthropist, Herman Hulman. Below the portrait is a plaque which reads, HERMAN HULMAN MEMORIAL AUDITORIUM The Gift of His Grandson, Anton Hulman, Jr. 1975.<\/p>\n

I said to my tour guide, \u201cIsn\u2019t it ironic that the Hulman family, Terre Haute\u2019s most notable capitalists, contributed the money to finance this auditorium with these impressive murals of radicals?\u201d She reminded me that Debs in his twenties had worked for Herman Hulman\u2019s wholesale grocery house for five years. Then again, she reiterated how Debs had a talent for \u201cforging friendships\u201d with men with whom he had political differences and that his views became more radical with the passing of his years. However, there was a mutual respect between Hulman and Debs, until Hulman\u2019s passing in 1913.<\/p>\n

Earlier during the tour, I had remarked that Dr. Constantine did not admire President Wilson, who had Debs imprisoned for opposing the draft in WWI; he was found guilty of sedition. It was a Republican president, Harding, who commuted Debs\u2019 sentence, which Wilson refused more than once. After Debs\u2019 release, Harding invited Debs to the White House upon receiving him, he said, “Well, I’ve heard so damned much about you, Mr. Debs, that I am now glad to meet you personally.” Debs was not a sour socialist; he had a warm charismatic personality. Evidently, Harding respected Debs for his willingness to go to prison for his convictions. During his imprisonment, Debs made one of his five runs for the presidency on the Socialist Ticket.<\/p>\n

Even though Dr. Constantine and I were at different ends on the political spectrum, we always were able to enjoy one another\u2019s company in our dinner conversation. Sometimes after the passing of his wife instead of going out, he would fix me a sandwich in his home. Dr. Constantine said more than once, \u201cJed and I don\u2019t agree on a lot of things but that does not make any difference.\u201d I was proud that he would say that I was the best student he ever had, sometimes he would qualify that and say, \u201cone of the best.\u201d He once said that he admired \u201cmy moxy\u201d for standing up for what I believed.<\/p>\n

We talked some politics and history but mostly about Terre Haute, ISU and mutual friends and acquaintances. When I turned 70, he remarked, \u201cYou know you are getting old, when one of your students is 70.\u201d He was 89 then. He said to me, \u201cCall me Bob.\u201d But I never felt comfortable being so familiar, so I addressed him as \u201cDoctor.\u201d I usually would bring up the saving grace of Christ at some point in our conversations; he listened patiently for he was not a particularly religious man; nevertheless, he was a kind man and always a gentleman. Although he was raised a Catholic, he was not practicing. He always allowed me to say grace over our meals and sometimes I would even conclude our visits in prayer.<\/p>\n

Dr. Constantine in our correspondence referred to me as \u201cold friend.\u201d At my last call to my old friend this past winter, I had my wife, Cindy, with me. The last few years he was in assisted living so we would just visit in his room. His short-term memory was not so good by now but long-term memory was still intact. He always recognized me and my wife. My last picture of him is concluding our visit with prayer. As we all bowed our heads, my wife and I recited the Lord\u2019s prayer, he repeated it with us.<\/p>\n

The Mr. Hulman, and Mr. Riley connections with Mr. Debs set a good example, that men should not allow different politics from hindering a friendship. Friendship should trump politics.<\/p>\n

In the Riley bedroom at the Debs home is a handwritten original manuscript of one of Riley poems, which he dedicated to Debs, entitled \u201cThem Flowers.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cSo here, all alone with the roses you send–
\nBein’ sick and all trimbly and faint,–
\nMy eyes is–my eyes is–my eyes is–old friend–
\nIs a-leakin’–I’m blamed ef they ain’t!\u201d<\/p>\n

When I walked into the Deb\u2019s memorial, I had to hold back my eyes from a-leakin\u2019 over the passing of my old friend, Dr. Constantine. Yet, I was encouraged by the visit to this interesting and appropriate Terre Haute historical sight.<\/p>\n

\u2014 George “Jed” Smock<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

[ We at the Debs Foundation are aware that George Smock has been and continues to be a controversial figure in the Terre Haute area, but as his remarks about Bob Constantine were respectful and sincere, we thought it would be appropriate to include them. ]<\/i><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\n

Donations to the Eugene V. Debs Foundation<\/a> are being accepted in his memory.<\/p>\n

\n

<\/h3>\n

The Eugene V. Debs Foundation Gratefully Acknowledges<\/strong>
\n Donations Made in Memory of Dr. J. Robert Constantine by<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Aaron Chappell<\/strong>
\nThe Doritys<\/strong>
\nLaurie Jaeger and Bill Wigle<\/strong>
\nAnn and Kim Kizer<\/strong>
\nDarwin Hamilton<\/strong>
\nStephen Howard<\/strong>
\nTim Kelley<\/strong>
\nJohn Kite\u2028<\/strong>
\nMelissa and George Libal<\/strong>
\nJohn Nation<\/strong>
\nGail Malmgreen<\/strong>
\nChristopher Rickerd<\/strong>
\nRon and Jan Schlattmann<\/strong>
\nAnn Seltzer<\/strong>
\nSilky Shah <\/strong>
\nSuzanne VanReed<\/strong>
\nForrest Wilder<\/strong>
\nThe Officers of the Eugene V. Debs Foundation<\/strong><\/p>\n

and<\/p>\n

The Grassroots Leadership Board of Directors<\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The Eugene V. Debs Foundation is saddened to report the passing of Professor J. Robert Constantine, the last surviving founder of the Eugene V. Debs Foundation, who passed away at his home in Austin, Texas, on Thursday, May 25, 2017, at the age of 93. In 1962, he was the member of a small group […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[3,1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-909","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-foundation","category-history"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/debsfoundation.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/909","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/debsfoundation.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/debsfoundation.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/debsfoundation.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/debsfoundation.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=909"}],"version-history":[{"count":15,"href":"https:\/\/debsfoundation.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/909\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":959,"href":"https:\/\/debsfoundation.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/909\/revisions\/959"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/debsfoundation.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=909"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/debsfoundation.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=909"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/debsfoundation.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=909"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}