September 18, 1987 TO: Academic Administrative Officials, UNI FROM: Don Whitnah, Department of History - SUBJECT: Obituary
Dr. William H. Graves and his wife, Louise Houghton, were both killed instantly on Friday evening, September 11, 1987, in a head-on collision with another auto in Prestonsburg, Kentucky. The other car had crossed over into their lane of traffic. There was a memorial service at Prestonsburg Community College on Tuesday morning. Professor Graves, who taught as a visiting assistant professor of history at the University of Northern Iowa during three years (1983-1986), grew up in Florida and took his A. A. degree at Central Florida Junior College in 1970. He then earned the B. A., M. A., and Ph. D. degrees in history at Florida State University, the last degree in 1982. His fields of study were American West, American Indian Affairs, and minor areas in U. S. Early National and Civil War. At UNI he taught Early National history and sections of the two United States survey courses. Professor Graves was a teaching assistant at Florida State University, where he was also an adjunct instructor during 1974-1977. He also served as an instructor at Tallahassee Community College during 1979-1980.
During his three years at UNI, he also served during the summers of 1984 and 1985 as visiting assistant professor at the University of Wyoming. His Ph. D. dissertation was, "The Evolution of American Indian Policy from Colonial Times to the Florida Treaty (1819)". He has published a number of articles with others in press at the time of his untimely death, in addition to a number of book reviews. He was also working on a book manuscript covering "The Indian Policy of the Confederate States of America." Bill appeared on a number of state, regional, and national programs in his field of study and earned several academic honors and grants during his short career. He was scheduled to appear on another program in October. Colleagues and friends at UNI will remember Bill as an enthusiastic and excellent teacher, who was also contributing widely to his scholarly profession. Louise Houghton was also on the teaching staff at Prestonsburg Community College and had earned an M. A. degree in political science while the couple resided in Cedar Falls. A scholarship fund has been set up in their names at Prestonsburg Community College, Prestonsburg, Kentucky 41653.