Col. James C. McBride Professor Announced

The Col. James C. McBride Professorship in History was established at the University of Maine in 2006 with a bequest from Col. James. C. McBride '54.

History Professsor, Richard Judd, a member of the UMaine faculty since 1984 and an authority on Maine and New England environmental history, has been named the inaugural Col. James C. McBride Professor for the initial five-year cycle.

"What we hope to do is highlight the importance of natural sciences in history," says Judd, who has published five books in the field and developed particular expertise on the Maine forest industry and the roots of conservation in New England, Oregon and the nation. "For the department, we hope to create an environment that makes it really interesting to study environmental history here [at UMaine.]"

Col. James McBride was a UMaine alum who graduated with a degree in economics in 1954. The son of an U.S. Army lieutenant colonel, McBride was born in North Dakota, raised in Portland, Maine and lived in New York state and Gloucester, Mass. A former UMaine ROTC member, McBride was a decorated military career officer who served in Korea, France, Vietnam and Taiwan before retiring as a full colonel in Fort Gordon, GA. A history enthusiast, McBride died in 2003 in Spokane, Washington.

"I had the pleasure of working with Col. McBride creating his legacy. He was a quiet leader of great vision. I am forever grateful for knowing him. He would be very pleased with the selection of Professor Judd as the first McBride professor," says Amos Orcutt. Orcutt is show above with Col. McBride in a picture taken in 2001.

Col. James C. McBride

If you would like to know more about establishing a professorship through the University of Maine Foundation, please give us a call at 800.982.5792 or visit our website.