Dwight Loveday, Interim Assistant Dean and Department Head

I write this with sadness. Today we learned of the sudden passing of our friend and colleague, Arthur Leal, Ph.D. Arthur was our lead teacher in the Agricultural Communications area and was beginning to become more involved in our 4-H Communications project. As we grew closer to Arthur, we learned to appreciate his talents, wit and sense of humor..

Dr. Leal was a gifted teacher. His design and video skills were phenomenal! His design products had that WOW factor. Through emotionally distressed faces, students expressed their appreciation for Dr. Leal’s guidance. Things like, “he inspired me”, ‘taught me to do better than I thought I could”, and “let your work make you proud”. Their comments brought to mind the words in the “Hymn of Promise”.

In the bulb, there is a flower;
In the seed, an apple tree;
In the cocoons, a hidden promise butterflies will soon be free!

Arthur’s influence on these students will be long lasting. They will bloom, produce fruit and go forth and do great things. They will make him proud! One student said it best, “Dr. Leal was the professor you always dreamed of!”