OCTOBER 1999
HUDSON
Dr. Walter W. Hudson, 65, of Tallahassee died August 5. A
native of Auburndale and a longtime resident of Tallahassee,
he was a professor at Florida State University in the School
of Social Work.
He received his master's degree from the University of Chicago
in 1963 and a doctorate in 1973.
Over the last 40 years, he has published voluminously: 20 standardized measurement devices, nine books, 60 articles in refereed journals, 44 pieces of computer software and 44 conference publications.
ROBERTS
B.K. Roberts, a former Florida Supreme Court chief justice, died August 4. Justice Roberts was instrumental in establishing the Florida State College of Law, and the main building in the law school is named for him.
"Justice Roberts was a major force in the series of events which have resulted in our successful law school," said Appeals Court Judge James Joanos, an active FSU alumnus.
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Judge Roberts served 27 years on the Florida Supreme Court, including three terms as chief justice. He was honored by four Florida law schools - Florida State, the University of Florida, Miami and Stetson - with honorary degrees.
Judge Roberts was called the "father of the Florida public
defender system," a model for other states in providing
legal counsel for those unable to afford it.
He was named by the state, in 1990, as a Great Floridian and
awarded the Distinguished Service Medal of the State of Florida.
During World War II, Roberts served in the Navy as a lieutenant commander.
SHEELY
On July 27th, Viola Sheely, 41, an actress, singer and founding
member of the Urban Bush Women dance company, died in New York
of heart failure.
Ms. Sheely was for many years the principal dancer with the celebrated
dance troupe and for more than 10 years toured internationally
in ground-breaking works choreographed by artistic director Jawole
Willa Jo Zollar.
Ms. Sheely met Zollar at Florida State University (where they
were both dance majors) in 1975. She earned a bachelor's degree
in fine arts in 1980 and journeyed to New York City to push the
boundaries of contemporary dance.
Ms. Sheely won a 1992 Bessie Award for creative work in dance
and performance art.
One of her most memorable roles was as the shy young visionary
Hannah, a character inspired by the primitive painter Minnie
Evans, in Zollar's 1990 "Praise House."
The all female dance theater company became known worldwide for
exploring issues related to women of African/Caribbean descent
by creating evening-length modern dance works.
Ms. Sheely went on to perform in many dance and theater works,
as well as film and televison.
She was also a founder of Hot Mouth, an a cappella singing group.
Several years ago she and her husband, Oded Carmi, built a home
in the rice paddy fields of Bali, Indonesia - and only one year
ago had their only child, Jessye.
Ms. Sheely returned with her family to New York this summer to attend the 15th anniversary celebration at The Joyce Theater of the Urban Bush Women.
WHITE
Joseph White, Jr. 81, died July 31. A native of Greensboro,
N.C., he had lived in Tallahassee since 1950.
He earned bachelor's and master's degrees from the University
of Michigan, and studied at the Curtis Institute. He was a veteran
of World War II, serving in the European Theatre as captain in
the 62nd Troop Carrier Group of the Army Air Corps.
He started teaching at Florida State University School of
Music in 1950.
"Joseph White made an indelible mark on the growth and development
of the School of Music for over 49 years," said Dr. Jon
R. Piersol, dean of the School of Music.
"As an outstanding horn professor, distinguished music
theory teacher, and a superb administrator in his long tenure
as assistant and associate dean, Dr. White's contributions impacted
the lives of generations of music students and faculty."