Dr. H. Leon Gatlin III, a retired professor in the Department of English at UNC Charlotte, died on October 3, 2019.
Gatlin earned his bachelor’s degree from Wake Forest College (now Wake Forest University) and his master’s and doctoral degrees from The University of Iowa. He joined UNC Charlotte’s English Department in 1966 and remained a member of the faculty until his retirement in 2001. Even after his formal retirement, he continued to teach courses in the department for several more years on a part-time basis.
“The English Department lost a friend, a former colleague, and a link to the department’s origin story,” department Chair Mark West said. “He played a leadership role in building the English Department during this formative period in the university’s history. For many years, he served as the department’s undergraduate coordinator, and in this capacity, he contributed to the operation and growth of the department.” West writes about Gatlin in this edition of his Monday Missive.
With his expertise and knowledge in British literature, he developed and taught a number of British literature courses. He also served as the director of the UNC Charlotte Writing Project for several years and contributed to the development of the English Department’s writing program.
Gatlin is survived by his wife, Patricia McGuinn Gatlin, daughter Susie Gatlin, stepsons Nathan Kline and wife Brooke, Tyler Kline and wife Kelly, and grandchildren Scarlett, Rex, Morgan, and Elise Kline. A celebration of his life will be held on Thursday, October 10, at St. Martin’s Episcopal Church at 3 p.m., with a reception following in the Parish Hall.
