Letter: Christie’s legacy loomed large at DSC

Published 1:00 pm Saturday, August 19, 2017

Dalton State College lost a legend on Friday morning. All of us who knew Terry Christie were deeply saddened to hear of his death.

Although many people knew him better, only Terry and I shared one very special bond: When he retired in 1993 after 26 years as one of the college’s original faculty members, I was hired to replace him. There was only one problem: Terry was irreplaceable at DSC. Even when I interviewed for the job, someone told me that the position was open because Terry was retiring.

I vividly remember being told that should I get the job, don’t even try to “replace” Terry Christie because it won’t be possible. Terry was the consummate storyteller, and he had many great stories to tell as a Georgia Democratic Party activist. The Jimmy Carter campaigns of 1976 and 1980 were just two of many campaigns in which Terry had the kind of “insider” access that allowed him to regale his students with colorful political stories that literally no other political scientist in the world was privy to.

I remember some early student evaluations where students expressed dismay that Terry Christie had not been their teacher. One of those students wrote something like “your stories are not as good as Mr. Christie’s.” That would NOT be the last time that I would pale in comparison to Terry Christie! Rest in peace my friend. You made a difference at DSC, and your legacy here will never be forgotten.

Ken Ellinger

Dalton