By Michael Freeman, Managing Editor

Known for his scrupulous teaching style and passion for medical mission work, Dr. John C. Little, professor emeritus of biology, played an integral part in shaping and guiding students’ lives during his 35 years at ACU.

Little passed away Oct. 7 in Abilene after a long battle with leukemia. He was 71.

“He was interested in helping people,” said Dr. Perry Reeves, professor of chemistry and premedical adviser at ACU. “He was an excellent teacher but a pretty challenging teacher. His goal was to be sure students were prepared for the challenges they’d meet when they went to medical and dental school.”

Little served as a professor, premedical adviser, chair of the Health Professions Advisory Committee and chair of the Department of Biology, all while helping more than 200 ACU students get into medical schools and more than 100 into dental schools. His attention to detail aided in students’ endeavors for life after ACU.

“One of the things that I was really impressed with him about was how well he knew course numbers across this campus,” said Dr. Jim Nichols, chair of the Department of Biology. “Like you could say ‘English 365,’ and he knew what it was. He was a really good person to help students plan out their schedules.”

Little began his teaching career at ACU in 1961 after earning an associate’s degree from Florida Christian College in 1956 and a bachelor’sdegree at ACU in 1959. He later received a master’s degree from ACU in 1964 and a doctorate from the University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston in 1971.

Little’s teaching tenure began with him working as an assistant instructor of biology until he was promoted to professor in 1979. Little became the chair of the department in 1984 and served until 1990 when Dr. Daniel Brannan, professor of biology, became chair.

As premedical adviser, Little assisted hundreds of students, primarily by providing them with contacts to prestigious medical and dental schools.

“He was a really good contact person,” Nichols said. “He knew a lot of people, and that was very helpful for our students.”

During his time at ACU, Little received many honors, including the “Outstanding Professor Award” in 1985, the “Outstanding Service Award” in 1990 by the Texas Association of Advisers for the Health Professions and the ACU “Teacher of the Year” award in 1995. Little retired in 1996 but still occasionally taught nursing courses.

Little also was involved in foreign mission work, taking several trips to Europe and Africa during his time in between semesters.

“That might have been his area of greatest interest,” Reeves said. “I’m sure he encouraged many ACU students to go on medical missionary trips.”

Little also was an elder at Hillcrest Church of Christ where he promoted mission work around the world. All of Little’s children were involved in mission work in Europe and southern Africa while they were in college or soon after they left college.

Little is survived by his wife, Ann, their four children, Alicia, Ellen, Jan and Andrew,and their four grandchildren.