Dr. Charles ("Charlie") Hart is still recalled by many of the Loyola faculty members who had the privilege to know him as a genial administrator with a striking sense of humor, mordant wit and a convivial disposition. His sudden, premature death in 1977 shocked all in the university.
Having earned his undergraduate degree here in 1960, Dr. Hart came back to Loyola upon completion of his doctorate at Columbia University in 1967. He was hired as an assistant professor and taught Victorian literature.
Dr. Hart's term as an Associate Dean in the College of Arts and Sciences took him to the Water Tower Campus. In that role, he took special care to resolve individual students' problems and earned their loyalty and affection in return.
For relaxation, Dr. Hart enjoyed listening to opera and reading novels—though only those by British authors!
The Hart Prize was established by Dr. Hart's colleagues in the English department immediately after his death. It is given each year to a graduating senior who has excelled as a student of literature. Members of the faculty nominate students for this award, which is presented at the Spring Honors Convocation.