Le Moyne selects Langdon as 2017 commencement speaker

SYRACUSE, N.Y. — A long time faculty member who wrote a book on the history of school will be the speaker for Le Moyne College’s 67th undergraduate commencement in May.

History professor John Langdon, who has taught at the school for nearly a half-century, wrote Against the Sky, the history of Le Moyne, which was published in 1996 on the 50th anniversary of the school’s founding, the school said in a news release.

Langdon is currently working on a book, which is tentatively titled A Beacon to Us All, to mark Le Moyne’s 75th anniversary in 2021.

Le Moyne will also present Langdon, who graduated from the school in 1967, with an honorary degree, the school said.

In addition to Langdon, Le Moyne will also award honorary degrees to Elaine Clyburn and Father Joseph Parkes.

Le Moyne describes Clyburn, who graduated from the school in 1956, as an “educator and long-time Red Cross worker.”

It also describes Parkes as someone who has been “instrumental” in the growth of the Cristo Rey Network of high schools.

Parkes helped start the Cristo Rey New York High School in 2004 and has served as president of this school in East Harlem since its opening, Le Moyne said.

He also serves as chair of the Cristo Rey Network board.

About Langdon

Langdon has worked in the history department at Le Moyne since 1971, handling courses on either western civilization or world civilizations during each of his 46 years in teaching.

He was named “Teacher of the Year” at Le Moyne in 1989. The school also named him its first O’Connell distinguished teaching professor in the humanities in 1996.

The Central New York Council for the Social Studies in 2011 honored Langdon with the “Distinguished Educator Award,” while the New York State Council for the Social Studies in 2012 named him “Distinguished Social Studies Educator of the Year,” per the release.

His publications include, as sole author, July 1914: The Long Debate, 1918-1990. He also co-authored four books with fellow Le Moyne professor Edward H. Judge, including A Hard and Bitter Peace: A Global History of the Cold War.

Langdon earned a bachelor’s degree in history from Le Moyne and a doctor of philosophy degree in history from the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs at Syracuse University.

In addition, having been drafted into the army in 1968, Langdon served six years in the U.S. Army Reserve before being honorably discharged as sergeant first class, Le Moyne said.

Contact Reinhardt at ereinhardt@cnybj.com

PHOTO: Le Moyne College has chosen John Langdon, who has taught in the school’s history department since 1971, as the speaker for the school’s undergraduate commencement ceremony on May 21. (Photo credit: Le Moyne College)