I wish I could sing the words to the musical Oklahoma, “oh what a beautiful morning, oh what a wonderful day.”
Both of my parents would have been immensely pleased to see all of you.
My father would have shown his happiness by sharing his ideas with you.
My mother would have given you a hot cup of coffee and some cheese cake.
Over the years, I have looked forward to returning to the university of Houston for the school had a central role in our family life.
This project started in January when Eloise and I met with Helen Ebaugh, Janet Shavitz, and Gary Dworkin.
While we had fun talking about the past contributions of both my mother and father, Eloise and I were anxious to hear about some of the current projects of the sociology department.
Eloise and I left that meeting electrified by what we heard!
Over the next few weeks, we discussed how we could help the sociology department prepare for the 21st century.
I shared our thoughts with Nestor Rodriguez and Jackie Hagen as well as my sister, Joella and my brother, Herbert.
To fast forward, all of us were elated when we finalized our plan.
First of all, we added my mother’s name to the Joseph Werlin scholarship and
Secondly, we created a faculty award that embraced the study of both the Hispanic community and Latin America.
In regard to the scholarship, my mother richly deserves this honor. All of her many strengths were required to create it.
Being a business pragmatist, I once asked mom why she had set aside funds for the scholarship when her personal savings were so limited.
She replied that the university had given our family dignity during the depression.
The breadlines of Chicago had forged my mother’s compassion.
Indeed, we should all be grateful to those philanthropists who established this institution of higher learning during the depression.
The guiding philosophy of the university of Houston was to service our community. This was a visionary and courageous act!
My mother with her fierce loyalties added to that tradition.
i cannot open mother’s golden book without shedding tears for this thick book is steeped with her love for both the university and my father.
My mother believed that a scholarship named for my father would balance her love for dad with her love for the university.
Today, for several reasons my family is formally establishing the joseph Werlin faculty award to promote Latin American-and Hispanic cultural understanding.
First of all, we felt that this award represented my father’s values.
Secondly, we felt that the university was well positioned to become a major academic force in these areas.
It is hard in a few words to convey the essence of my father, but i would like to try so that you can understand my motives.
At the funeral of my father, our rabbi spoke that Talmudic sages felt that there were substitutes for everything except scholars.
During that somber occasion, my rabbi’s reassuring words on the meaning of my father’s life provided a ray of sunshine.
I came to appreciate my wonderful and unique heritage.
Let me share with you why I would like to honor my father and why dad would appreciate this award.
I believe my father displayed leadership and vision when he created the international program for the university of Houston.
Sixty years ago, studying abroad was almost unknown. Our country was just recovering from the devastating impact of the depression and we were locked in a herculean global war.
Nevertheless, my father believed that a natural complement to franklin Roosevelt’s good neighbor policy toward Latin America would be an international program that enabled students to explore a foreign culture by studying abroad.
Dad passionately felt that it was incumbent for Americans and Latinos to know and value each other’s culture.
He believed that a fundamental lesson of World War II was an appreciation for diversity.
He believed that the alamo and the battle of San Jacinto should not define for all times the relationship between Mexico and the United States.
Studying in Mexico during World War II was, to say the least, not a walk in the park.
Despite the hardships, the first year some seventy students participated in this exciting but exacting experiment.
The group traveled on run-down non-airconditioned buses over unpaved roads through Mexico.
They listened to my father’s detailed lectures on Mexico’s socioeconomic conditions.
Despite the inconveniences, they left Mexico with a lifelong appreciation for that country’s cultural traditions.
I would like to conclude by stating that i hope over time the university of Houston can establish a full-fledged international program.
This would extend the university’s commitment beyond the Houston community to the world at large.
It might be appropriate to remember the words of Socrates. “I am not a citizen of Athens, nor of Greece. I am a citizen of the world.”
Also, on behalf of my family, we would like to thank all of you for joining us today.
Your presence provides added meaning and fun to this occasion.
