Memorial Service for Dr. Stan Hauer, Professor Emeritus of English, Set for Nov. 20

Wed, 11/05/2025 - 11:09am

Dr. Stanley Hauer, a beloved University of Southern Mississippi professor emeritus of English known by students and colleagues for his wit, warmth and unrelenting curiosity, passed away on Oct. 15 in Hattiesburg. He was 75.

A native of Huntsville, Ala., Hauer earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Auburn University and a Ph.D. from the University of Tennessee in Knoxville. He joined the then-Southern Miss Department of English faculty in 1978 and also served as associate dean for the university’s former College of Liberal Arts.

Hauer had a great zeal for the arts, translating and writing librettos for operas, as well as studying the history of the English and Germanic languages. His students fondly recalled his impassioned lectures on Beowulf, his favorite literary work, as well as Shakespeare’s Macbeth.

School of Humanities faculty members Dr. Luis Iglesias and Dr. Joyce Inman remember Hauer fondly for his collegiality and dedicated service to the university and its students.

“He was a much beloved and highly sought-after advisor and teacher who was always present with an open door, where students dropped in throughout the day to discuss classes, career goals and academic subjects across disciplines,” Iglesias remembers.

Iglesias also praised Hauer for his work in shaping the university’s English program curriculum and his input in the design of the Liberal Arts building. He further noted Hauer’s contributions in support of Southern Miss orchestra and music programming, which earned him the Themis Award for his service and support to the School of Music.

Hauer was also active in advocating for the arts in the community, organizing cultural events with statewide reach, including collaborations with the Mississippi Opera and the 2004 Dresden exhibit in Jackson, among many others.

“Dr. Stanley Hauer left an indelible mark on the institution he loved, the colleagues he mentored and the students he taught,” Iglesias continued. “He leaves a legacy of service and dedication to teaching, literary studies, music and cultural appreciation, and, for those of us who knew and respected him, friendship that will not be forgotten.”

Inman also described him as “a brilliant colleague, an excellent professor and a good friend.”

“He was generous with his time and his expertise and fully invested and committed to his students,” she said.

Inman, who also serves as dean of the Honors College, further noted that Hauer’s positive influence on his students led to the creation of the Dr. Stanley Hauer Award for Excellence in Teaching in the School of Humanities.

“Ask any student about their experiences in Stan’s History of the English Language class, and if they were one of the students to win a coveted ‘etymology bear,’ they will tell you about it with pride to this day,” Inman said. “I will miss him and the wise counsel he offered over the years.”

Stacey Ready, a former Honors College staff member, also counted Dr. Hauer as a close friend and colleague.

“As coordinator of Honors Foundations, I worked with Stan for many years and saw his passion for teaching and dedication both inside and outside the classroom,” said Ready. “He brought a depth of knowledge and a joy that left an impression on generations of students, and he will be dearly missed by them and by me.”

A memorial service for Hauer, a member of Trinity Episcopal Church, will be held at 3:30 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 20, at the church, 509 West Pine St., Hattiesburg. Hulett-Winstead Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.