RICHARD D. DODDS
English Teacher 1962 – 1998

Having taught some classes at Williamstown High while a Williams student, Richard Dodds returned in l962 to spend thirty-six years at Mount Greylock. He served in several leadership positions in the English department, directed student drama, acted in faculty plays, and for thirty-five years advised Gemini, the literary and graphic arts magazine.

For Dick, storytelling was big magic, and careful, empathetic reading and writing of English yielded rich dividends. He infused into his students his love of the language; they looked deeper, read closer, and chose their words more carefully than they might for someone else. Dick inspired as he disciplined, instructed and motivated, not only through excellent example, but also through his gift of humor. Students thought class was fun, and often they did not realize until they looked back what an extraordinary amount they had learned. Dick’s teaching was invisible, as all good teaching should be. His depth of knowledge, his ability to perform, and his warmth of personality combined to fully engage students in the moment.

Former students frequently ask, “Is Mr. Dodds still at Mount Greylock? I learned so much from him.” What greater legacy can a teacher leave?