Manuel Davenport (CV) came to Texas A&M University in 1967 to serve as Department Head of the newly created Department of Philosophy in the College of Liberal Arts. He served as department head until 1976, steering the department through its growth from three initial faculty to an established program. At the same time, he acquired a reputation on campus as a truly extraordinary teacher, as one of A&M’s very best. He is one of the few two-time winners of the Association of Former Students University Distinguished Teaching Award, 1978 and 1989.

After completing his term as department head, he continued to play a central role in building the department. Simultaneously, he built, for himself, a national reputation in the field of Military Ethics serving as Distinguished Visiting Professor of Philosophy at the United States Air Force Academy, 1980-1981 and 1994-1995.

During the years of A&M’s rapid growth to a comprehensive university, Dr. Davenport played an important role as a leader among campus faculty, in his own unique fashion, of course.

When Philosophy began offering a Master of Arts degree in 1989, Dr. Davenport served as the Director of the Graduate Program from 1990-1994; supervising more than his share of MA theses.

He had an unparalleled impact as a teacher. His former students never forget what they learned in his class and many of them maintained contact with him for years, even decades, after graduation until his death in 2000.

The Manuel Davenport Society was established December 8, 1999 at the retirement banquet in honor of Dr. Davenport. Gathering for this celebration were current and former students, friends and colleagues honoring over three decades of exceptional services and achievements of Dr. Davenport as a philosopher and a teacher. The faculty recalled stories of Dr. Davenport and earlier days of the department:

Ed Harris remembered how things were in the very beginning.

John J. McDermott, successor to Davenport as Department Head in 1977, told the story of his long friendship with Manuel and his great admiration for him as a teacher, closing with the remark that if he were given the power to create an ideal university, the first and most crucial question for him would be, “What would Manuel do?”

Hugh McCann, remembered Manuel’s strong commitments to principle, for which he sometimes paid significant costs.

Richard Stadelmann, one of the “original three” along with Manuel and Ed Harris, recalled what it was like to work with Manuel in building a department and a major program.

The highlight of the evening was the announcement of the Manuel Davenport Society for the Promotion of Excellence in Philosophy. Beau Sharbrough ’76 recalled how he had “joined the Manuel Davenport Society” in 1974, when he first met Manuel, then head of the department, in the office ‘behind the coke machine in the Academic Building’ and decided to major in Philosophy. After recounting a series of incidents in which he had experienced the impact of Manuel’s influence on him later in life, Beau presented Manuel with a plaque with the following inscription:

Subsequently, Robin Smith announced that the Manuel Davenport Society for the Promotion of Excellence in Philosophy had indeed been established and had accumulated gifts of over $16,000. The fund was established as a discretionary fund for support of undergraduate and graduate programs such as student awards, scholarships, fellowships, travel subsidies to permit students to attend meetings and conferences; funds to assist undergraduates organize a conference of their own; support for travel by graduate students in furtherance of their research projects; visiting speakers for student events; an annual prize for the best philosophy essay by an undergraduate and graduate.

The Manuel Davenport Prize is awarded annually to one Junior or Senior Philosophy major in recognition of their contributions to philosophy and the intellectual life of the Philosophy department.

The announcement of the Manuel Davenport Society for the Promotion of Excellence in Philosophy took Manuel Davenport by surprise, something which his long-time friends said rarely happened.

(Contributions may be made to the Manuel Davenport Society for the Promotion of Excellence in Philosophy by writing a check payable to the Texas A&M Foundation. In the memo section of the check please indicate "57476 Davenport". The check should be mailed to Katherine Jakubik, TAMU Philosophy Department, 4237 TAMU, College Station, TX 77843-4237.)

Several of Manuel’s former students were unable to attend but nevertheless sent their greetings, Michele Mobley ’87, Randy Durham ’73, Michael Hatfield ’90, William Hartsfield ’73 and William Hamilton ’72. William Hamilton wrote, “I will always be grateful for Manuel’s attempts to develop what he call a ‘Happy Existentialism’ for those who get the bends in the face of the dread” ending his tribute to Manuel with these words: “Raise a glass for me tonight. Saludos a nuestro amigo y professor Manuel!”

Diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in the summer of 2000 and discovering that it had spread to his liver and his lungs, Manuel refused to undergo chemotherapy. Friends and colleagues who were with him in the days shortly before his death were struck by his sense of peace, his moral courage, and despite the horrific circumstance of his illness, the ability to maintain his delicious sense of ironic humor.

The Manuel Davenport Lecture, established in 2008, honors the memory and philosophical legacy of Manuel Davenport. To be added to the listserve for the davenport lecture please contact davenport-lecture@philosophy.tamu.edu.

On April 10, 2008 , the first Davenport Lecture was held. The event began with the 2008 Student Award Ceremony followed by the lecture entitled "Acts, Insides, and the Persistence of Individuals: A Personal Journey" presented by Douglas Browning, Professor Emeritus, University of Texas At Austin . A reception followed immediately in the Memorial Student Center . The second annual lecture will be held April 30, 2009.