Dr. William J. Murnane, a University of Memphis history professor, died in his home Friday from heart failure. Murnane was 55.
Memorial services were held for Murnane on Monday at the Memphis Funeral Home Poplar Chapel.
Dr. Kenneth Goings, history department chair, said he met Murnane in 1988. Goings said Murnane was both intelligent and interesting.
"He was very personable (and) engaging, and I was immediately struck by his intellect," Goings said. Goings, who attended the memorial service Monday, said Murnane was a one-of-a-kind professor.
"He was very unique," Goings said. "His loss has left a huge gap not only at the College of Arts and Sciences, but (throughout) The University."
In addition to his work as a history professor, Murnane was deeply interested in Egyptian lifestyle and culture.
Lorelei Corcoran, director of the Institute of Egyptian Art and Archaeology, said she actually traveled with Murnane in Egypt.
"I spent three seasons in the field with him on the Karnak Great Hypostyle Hall Project," Corcoran said. "I got to witness firsthand how caring he was in terms of teaching his students."
Corcoran also wrote the eulogy for Murnane's memorial service.
In the eulogy, she said Murnane was committed to his work and his students.
"Bill's commitment to professional service extended beyond The University, where he served on numerous thankless committees such as the Faculty Senate and as the University's representative to the Association of University Professors."
According to Corcoran, Murnane's work in Egypt led him to study art and writings in ancient temples.
"As a field epigrapher and then senior epigrapher until 1986, he documented the texts and scenes on the walls of the major temples of Karnak, Khonsu and Luxor," Corcoran said in her eulogy.
Murnane also wrote publications about Egyptology.
"He was extremely prolific in his publications," Corcoran said. "Many of the books he wrote are now standard text in our field. His work was a benchmark for scholarship in Egypt history."
Goings said Murnane was constantly considerate when it came to what was in the best interest of his students.
"He was always concerned about the welfare of his students," Goings said. "He clearly was a world-class scholar and a very dedicated teacher."
