I first met Charlie somewhere around 1987, when I was finishing up my PhD. My dissertation coordinator, Don Clark, knew Charlie and he said that Charlie was working on something that might be useful in my work. So my very first contact with him was citing his research in my dissertation!
Thereafter and for many years, I would run into Charlie at conventions and we would always stop and chat, but that was the extent of our contact–that is until 2006. Our econ department had been given a chaired professorship and, to my surprise and delight, Charlie applied. Starting in the fall of 2007, he became the inaugural Hal Wright Professor of Latin American Economics! Charlie did an awesome job with the position and willingly set out on new paths in his research so that he could bring more relevant information and analysis to the students in the classroom. Charlie was an accomplished researcher and a popular and effective teacher. Indeed, his classroom presentation during his interview was one of the best I have ever seen.
I have many fond memories of Charlie. He was extremely well-read and taught me quite a bit about naval warfare in the age of sail. He–the only Texan in our department–also knew a lot of Texas history, including where some of the best-preserved frontier forts were. I really enjoyed a story he used to tell on himself about his first semester at St. Mary’s in San Antonio. He said he had been told that in order to earn an A, you had to have a 95 or above in a course. He figured they were joking–surely it’s 90 or above! Nope. He said he really had to take it up a notch after that! We had a poker group some years back in which Charlie and Diana participated, and something we all quickly learned about Charlie was that he would fold hand after hand–and if he didn’t fold, you’d better! If Charlie stays in, he’s got four aces!
Charlie never took himself too seriously, he was an well-respected scholar, he had a devoted following among our students, and he was a good colleague and friend. He will be sorely missed. Melanie and I send our heartfelt condolences to the family.
John and Melanie Harvey