Allan Saxe

Allan Saxe
Born	February 1939 Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, U.S.
Died	June 18, 2024(2024-06-18) (aged 85) Arlington, Texas, U.S.
Education	University of Oklahoma
Occupation(s)	Political scientist, author, academic, radio commentator, philanthropist
Employer	University of Texas at Arlington
Spouse	Ruthie Brock ​ (m. 2018)​

Allan Saxe (February 1939 – June 18, 2024) was an American political scientist, author, lecturer, radio commentator, philanthropist and academic. He was the professor emeritus of political science at the University of Texas at Arlington, where he started as a faculty member in 1965.

Personal life

Saxe was born in February 1939 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.^[1][2] He earned his Ph.D in political science at the University of Oklahoma in the year 1969.^[3] As a child, he was diagnosed with polio and remained bedridden for several months.^[4] The illness caused a lifelong case of mobility issues, panic attacks, vertigo and nausea.^[4]

In April 2018, Saxe married Ruthie Brock, his partner of 40 years.^[5]

In August 2020, Saxe disclosed that he had Parkinson's disease and was living comfortably in Arlington.^[6] He died on June 18, 2024, at the age of 85.^[7]

Career

In 1965, Saxe was hired by Arlington State College to teach government courses during the summer semester.^[4] After the semester ended, he became a full-time faculty member of the university.^[4] He would continue to teach at the university until February 2019 when he retired due to health issues relating to post-polio syndrome.^[4]

Saxe published one book titled Politics of Arlington, Texas: An Era of Continuity and Growth^[8] and co-authored one other titled American Government: A Core Approach.^[9] He also published in several political journals and magazine articles.^[10]

Aside from writing and teaching, Saxe was also a radio political commentator, mainly contributing for programs on WBAP (AM).^[11][12] He also made some commentary contributions for CBS.^[13]

Philanthropy

Saxe's mother left him $500,000 upon her death which he gave away to charitable organizations.^[14][15] He has funded the Christmas lights in downtown Arlington, Texas, as well as paid for efforts to keep traffic flowing in the area for light viewing.^[14]

Landmarks throughout Arlington, Texas, are named after Saxe in honor of his generous giving. These include Allan Saxe Park,^[16] the Allan Saxe Dental Clinic,^[17] the Allan Saxe Field,^[18] and the Allan Saxe Parkway (the latter a tongue-in-cheek honor; the "Parkway" leads to the Arlington city landfill and was named after his critiques of city council actions).^[19]

Grants, loans and charities bear his name. The Allan Saxe NT Green Loan is a loan offered to students of the University of North Texas for unexpected expenses outside of tuition, fees and books.^[20] The Allan Saxe Disabled Student Scholarship is a scholarship for disabled students at the University of Texas at Arlington who excel academically.^[21] UNT lists the Ruth Brock and Allan Saxe Scholarship in Library Science as an available scholarship for students.^[22] Saxe donated $100,000 to have a 50-foot tall sculpture erected between AT&T Stadium and Rangers Ballpark in Arlington.^[23]

In August 2020, Saxe announced his pledge to donate $10,000 to homeless shelters across Arlington, Texas.^[6]

Honors and awards

In 1972, Saxe won the UTA Chancellor's Council Award (formerly the Amoco Award).^[24] In 1986, 2007 and 2008, he was named to the Gertrude Golladay Memorial Award for Outstanding Teaching in the College of Liberal Arts.^[25]

References

1. "Allan Saxe celebrates birthday and the Planetarium endowment". The Shorthorn. February 10, 2010. Archived from the original on June 19, 2024. Retrieved June 19, 2024.
2. "City Parks". Arlington TX. Archived from the original on June 19, 2024. Retrieved June 19, 2024.
3. "Date of receiving Ph.D." University of Texas Arlington. Archived from the original on December 22, 2010. Retrieved September 11, 2008.
4. "Allan Saxe: a lifelong legacy". The Shorthorn. April 10, 2019. Archived from the original on August 23, 2022. Retrieved June 19, 2024.
5. "Allan & Ruthie". Arlington Today. June 10, 2018. Archived from the original on June 20, 2024. Retrieved June 19, 2024.
6. "Noted Arlington philanthropist, a former UTA professor, pledges to donate up to $10,000 to homeless shelter". Dallas Morning News. August 20, 2020. Archived from the original on March 4, 2024. Retrieved June 19, 2024.
7. "Allan Saxe, UTA professor known for his philanthropy, dies at 85". Dallas News. Archived from the original on June 19, 2024. Retrieved June 19, 2024.
8. Saxe, Allan A. (2001). Politics of Arlington, Texas: An Era of Continuity and Growth: Allan Saxe: 9781571685421: Amazon.com: Books. Eakin Press. ISBN 1571685421.
9. Bottrell, Catherine; Agboaye, Ehi; Madani, Hamed; Giardino, Anthony; Jackson, Andrew Hudson; Saxe, Allan (December 2004). American Government: A Core Approach: Hamed Madani, Ehi Agboaye, Catherine Bottrell, Anthony Giardino, Andrew Hudson Jackson: 9780759349438: Amazon.com: Books. HEINLE & HEINLE PUBL Incorporated. ISBN 0759349436.
10. "Mentis". uta.edu. Archived from the original on June 19, 2024. Retrieved August 19, 2015.
11. "Chris Salcedo Show: "The Whole Thing is a Farce" – Dr. Allan Saxe". WBAP. December 6, 2019. Archived from the original on June 19, 2024. Retrieved June 19, 2024.
12. "Morning News: The fallout from Rep. Joe Barton's leaked photo". WBAP. November 27, 2017. Archived from the original on June 19, 2024. Retrieved June 19, 2024.
13. "ALLAN SAXE". UTA.edu. Archived from the original on October 2, 2022. Retrieved June 19, 2024.
14. "Editorial: Santa, step up your game". The Dallas Morning News. Archived from the original on September 24, 2015. Retrieved August 19, 2015.
15. "FWWeekly: Feature: SAXE MANIAC". Fort Worth Weekly. Archived from the original on April 4, 2015. Retrieved August 19, 2015.
16. "City of Arlington, TX :: Government :: Parks and Recreation :: Parks and Trails". Archived from the original on May 28, 2011. Retrieved October 21, 2011.
17. "Mission Arlington – Mission Metroplex » Allan Saxe Dental Clinic". missionarlington.org. Archived from the original on August 11, 2015. Retrieved August 19, 2015.
18. "UT Arlington Official Athletic Site – Facilities". utamavs.com. Archived from the original on May 22, 2011. Retrieved August 19, 2015.
19. "Google Maps". Archived from the original on June 19, 2024. Retrieved August 19, 2015.
20. "Student Money Management Center". unt.edu. Archived from the original on May 30, 2013. Retrieved August 19, 2015.
21. "UTA College of Education – Allan Saxe Disabled Student Scholarship". Archived from the original on October 7, 2012. Retrieved October 21, 2011.
22. "College of Information". unt.edu. Archived from the original on June 25, 2012. Retrieved August 19, 2015.
23. "Denton Record Chronicle | News for Denton County, Texas – Denton Record-Chronicle". Archived from the original on July 29, 2012. Retrieved October 21, 2011.
24. "College of Liberal Arts at UT Arlington". uta.edu. Archived from the original on August 18, 2015. Retrieved August 19, 2015.
25. "College of Liberal Arts at UT Arlington". uta.edu. Archived from the original on August 18, 2015. Retrieved August 19, 2015.