[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 43 (Wednesday, March 31, 2004)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E497]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        HONORING JEFFEREY OBLER

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. DAVID E. PRICE

                           of north carolina

                    in the house of representatives

                       Wednesday, March 31, 2004

  Mr. PRICE of North Carolina. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in honor of 
Jeffrey Obler, longtime professor of political science at the 
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. He lost his battle with 
pneumonia last Saturday at the age of 62.
  I, knew Jeff as a fellow educator and colleague, and several members 
of my staff who attended Carolina also knew him as a mentor, one with 
an extraordinary talent for teaching. It is at their request--and 
utilizing their thoughts, words, and memories--that I rise today in his 
honor.
  Dr. Obler started his path in education at New York University and 
earned his doctorate from the University of Wisconsin before landing at 
the UNC Department of Political Science. A teacher of international 
relations and political philosophy, he was a leading academic voice on 
campus and an outstanding citizen in the greater community. For more 
than 25 years of his life, Dr. Obler served the university with 
distinction, touching the lives of countless students and leaving an 
indelible mark on the community.
  Dr. Obler's work, which focused on the link between moral theory and 
public policy, has been published in many prestigious academic 
journals, including Political Theory, Comparative Politics, and the 
British Journal of Political Science. He received numerous awards and 
distinctions during his tenure at UNC, including two Tanner Teaching 
Awards and a Students' Undergraduate Teaching Award. Yet Dr. Obler's 
most meaningful legacy was built through his unparalleled dedication to 
teaching.
  In the classroom, Dr. Obler displayed an intellectual curiosity that 
never waned, inspiring his students to join him in the pursuit of 
knowledge with a style of teaching that was more engaging conversation 
than lecture. He could explain complex moral and political arguments 
with depth and conviction, while always encouraging students to arrive 
at their own conclusions and beliefs. This accessible style made Obler 
a favorite among undergraduates, who regularly lined up outside his 
door during office hours to seek his mentorship on issues large and 
small.
  His abilities also won him great respect among his peers in the UNC 
faculty, many of whom have described him as the best classroom 
professor in the department. This respect was so great that Dr. Obler 
was selected from among the entire political science faculty to lead a 
course about teaching methods for graduate students. He also served the 
department as Director of Undergraduate Studies and Director of 
Internships and Awards.
  Dr. Obler is survived by his two children, a long-time companion, and 
students like my staffers who will forever treasure the lessons he has 
taught them. His legacy is one that will be treasured for generations.

                          ____________________