In Memoriam
In Memoriam
"For a professor, there is nothing quite so satisfying as inspiring ordinary students to achieve extraordinary results."
-Paul J. Weber
The officers and members of SAPLA join many in mourning the untimely passing of Dr. Paul J. Weber, a beloved political science professor at the University of Louisville and the founding director of the university's McConnell Center for Political Leadership. Educated at the University of Chicago (Ph.D., Political Science) and St. Louis University where he earned two Masters Degrees, Paul was a prolific writer and a distinguished professor. In addition to the numerous articles to his credit, he also co-authored several books: Private Churches and Public Money, Unfounded Fears: Myths and Realities of a Constitutional Convention and United States Religious Interest Groups. He was awarded the Naamani Award for Outstanding Service to Political Science in 1983 and the University of Louisville's Distinguished Teaching Professor award in 1986. In 1990 he garnered the University of Louisville Trustees Award and in 1995, the Red Apple Alumni Award.
Paul also served as the pre-law advisor at the University of Louisville, and was an active member of SAPLA for many years. He served as president of SAPLA in 1988-89 and was one of the first SAPLA members to develop an in-house LSAT prep course for his students. His prep sessions proved so successful that he was asked to share his methods at several SAPLA conferences so that other pre-law advisors could replicate his winning techniques. Paul brought humor and a welcoming informality to the planning and annual meetings as SAPLA president.
Prior to his death, Paul was honored by the University of Louisville Board of Trustees with the naming of the "Paul J. Weber Student Research Room". Located in the new wing of the McConnell Center, the facility will be equipped with computers and other research tools to assist student research and writing. Gary Gregg, the current director of the Center stated, "When Senator McConnell and I talked about this [honor for Weber], we knew Paul would want his name on something which was alive and vibrant with students, not just another office."
The University has also established a Paul Weber Fellowship for Mentoring Excellence and plans are moving forward to establish the Paul J. Weber Endowed Chair in Politics, Science and Religion. Anyone desiring to support either of these efforts by making a contribution in Paul's memory should contact the university's Development Office, 2323 S. Brook St., Louisville, KY 40292, or contact Professor Charles Ziegler (ceziegler@louisville.edu), the chair of the Department of Political Science at the University of Louisville.
Reflections or comments on the life of Dr. Weber can be posted to a Guest Book housed on the University's web page: Those comments already posted reflect the high esteem in which Paul was held. Just as he will be remembered for his brilliance and professional accomplishments, he will be missed for his easy smile, his genuine concern for others and his unselfish gifts of time to his students and colleagues.
Paul was 67 at the time of his passing. He is survived by his wife, Maddie Reno, and a son, Benjamin Reno Weber.