Professor John Herbert Haddox

John Herbert Haddox, Professor Emeritus at the University of Texas at El Paso, peacefully passed away at home on July 15, 2017, surrounded by his family. He was 87 years old. John was born on August 9, 1929, in Pawnee, OK. He graduated high school from Cascia Hall Preparatory School in Tulsa, OK. He earned his BA in 1954, his MA in 1955, and his PhD in philosophy in 1958, all from the University of Norte Dame. He also served two years in the United States Armed Forces. He taught at the University of Texas at El Paso as a full-time professor from 1957-2013 and as a part-time professor for two more years. He was one of the first professors to teach at the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute, formerly known as the Center for Lifelong Learning. In addition, he shared his expertise with the students of Loretto Academy by teaching philosophy and sociology there in the 1970s. It is hard to estimate the impact he had on the thousands of students he loved and taught for over five decades. Professor Haddox wrote numerous articles and books during his tenure at UTEP, including Antonio Caso: Philosopher of Mexico and Vasconcelos of Mexico. Among his fields of study were Latin American Philosophy and Chicano intellectual heritage as well as Native American philosophy. He developed UTEP’s first course in Chicano philosophy and lectured throughout the United States, Mexico, England, and the Czech Republic, to name only a few places. In 2009, the John Haddox Endowment for Excellence in Philosophy at UTEP was created to benefit faculty and students of philosophy. Throughout his career, he earned many awards and was recognized in many ways. A few include The Distinguished Achievement Award in Teaching Excellence, the Faculty Research Award, the University of Norte Dame Award of the Year, the Outstanding Faculty Achievement Award, and he received an Apostolic Blessing by Pope John XXIII and was appointed to The Pontifical Equestrian Order of St. Gregory the Great by Pope Paul VI. Professor Haddox was also recognized by a conference in his honor: “In Honor of John Haddox: 50 Years of Philosophy at UTEP.” He further enhanced countless student lives by traveling with them overseas and to Mexico on guided tours. Moreover, he will always be remembered as a champion of civil and students’ rights. John was preceded in death by his parents, Dr. Charles Haddox and Mary Walsh Webb Haddox, his siblings Austin, Charles, Jr., and Katharine, and two of his children, Thomas and Margaret. Left to cherish his memory and his legacy of love are his devoted and loving wife of almost 63 years, Carmen, and the eleven children they raised: his sons John (Elizabeth), Charles (Lizbeth), Robert (Karissa), and Richard (Melinda), Timothy (Daniela), and his daughters Christina Huber (John), Raissa DeGraw (Colin), Grace Haddox (Basilio Chavez) and Madeleine Haddox, and his grandchildren Mark, Ian, Stuart, Nicholas, Peter, Roy, Nicole, Jacob, Colin, and Hudson, and his great-grandchildren Sofia, Olivia, Nina, Kaiya, and Alexander. In addition, he will be remembered and loved by numerous nieces, nephews, friends, colleagues, and students. Two of John Haddox’s proudest moments occurred decades apart. The first occurred in 1942 when he was ceremonially adopted by the Pawnee Indian Tribe and given the name Kiwakootiwati (Walking Fox). The second occurred only a few weeks ago when he and his family were honored by the rededication of Radford Park as Haddox Family Park. To honor Professor Haddox’s memory, in lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to John Haddox Endowment for Excellence in Philosophy at the University of Texas at El Paso. Services are as follows: Gathering of Remembrance will be from 5:00pm to 9:00pm with a Vigil/Rosary at 7:00pm and Reflections at 8:00pm on Wednesday, July 19, 2017 at Sunset Funeral Home Northeast. Funeral Mass will be held at 10:00am on Thursday, July 20, 2017 at Loretto Chapel, 1300 Hardaway. Interment will be Private. Service entrusted to Sunset Funeral Home Northeast. Please visit our online register book at www.sunsetfuneralhomes.net.