Dr. Thomas L. "Tom" Auffenberg, age 65, of Arkadelphia, Arkansas died Wednesday, August 21st, 2013 in Hot Springs. He was born in Joplin, Missouri, on October 10th, 1947. Tom grew up in Fort Worth, Texas, and attended Texas Christian University. He pursued and caught a Ph.D. at Vanderbilt University. In 1973 Tom joined the History faculty at Ouachita Baptist University, where he established himself as a legend in his own time. His rhetorical skills, intelligence, wit, and kindness combined to make of him a History teacher nonpareil. He was known to colleagues and students, both past and present, far and wide, as "The Chinchilla." Dr. Auffenberg leaves behind no biological family. In the most profound sense of the word "family", however, he leaves behind a large and loving family. A memorial service to celebrate Tom’s life will be held Saturday, 2:00 p.m., August 24th at the W. Francis McBeth Recital Hall located in the Mabee Fine Arts Center on the Campus of Ouachita Baptist University in Arkadelphia. Memorial gifts may be made to the Clark County Humane Society, and to Ouachita Baptist University designated for the European Study Tour, or scholarships to benefit history majors.
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