The Man in the Red Tie

The late Dr. Harold Jeskey, professor of chemistry at Southern Methodist University, had a signature look: a red tie. To him, red ties represented excellence, which is why he awarded them to outstanding students in his classes.

But his respect for, and understanding of, the young people he taught went beyond academics. During the tumultuous days of integration, Jeskey presented a red tie to a black student he never even taught...perhaps as an award for bravely facing racism.

Kindness and compassion, as well as academic brilliance, continually defined the professor's life. Born into poverty in 1912, Jeskey lived through two world wars "and" the Great Depression. A lifelong fascination with science and medicine led him to pursue a doctorate in chemistry. After joining the SMU faculty in 1945, he spent the next thirty-four years inspiring students to strive for excellence in all facets of life.

"The Man in the Red Tie: Professor Harold Jeskey" is a meticulously researched biography that stems from the author's deeply personal experiences with the professor himself. Interviews with family, friends, colleagues, and former students paint a vivid picture of a man whose legacy is deeply ingrained in the collective memory and culture of SMU.