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Professor Shared Love Of History

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By RONNIE BLAIR

The Tampa Tribune

Published: September 17, 2008

Michael Long

NEW PORT RICHEY - Michael E. Long loved history and had a fondness for teaching his students about the Civil War and the Lincoln assassination.

He managed to do that without taking sides in a conflict that still sparks arguments more than 140 years after it was fought.

"He was always objective," said Kelvin Faison, a friend and colleague of Long's at Pasco-Hernando Community College. "He was always intelligent that way."

Long, 58, an associate professor of history and political science at PHCC, died Friday from complications associated with pneumonia, the college reported.

A memorial gathering was held Tuesday at Dobies Funeral Home in Tarpon Springs.

In order to pay their respects to Long's family, the college's board of trustees moved its meeting to the New Port Richey campus and met after the memorial gathering.

Faison, an assistant professor of psychology, said dealing with his friend's death had been "a tremendous burden to bear."

"He was the type of guy, if he said something, he meant it," Faison said. "He had a lot of honor and dignity in what he believed in and stood for."

Faison said Long was a friend who could be counted on to lend a helping hand.

"If my car broke down, he would drive me to work," Faison said.

The two would get together each week in the fall for Monday night football. Long was partial to the Washington Redskins and the Philadelphia Eagles, Faison said.

Long took pride in his collection of old newspapers, magazines, lithographs and photographs that he began accumulating when he was 13.

The collection started with World War II-era newspapers, but included 19th, 20th and 21st century items that reflected his interest in history.

He put together an exhibit of the collection that was displayed at the college last fall and was featured in a Tampa Tribune story. The exhibit included reports from both world wars, the assassinations of John F. Kennedy and Abraham Lincoln, the fall of Saigon, The Washington Post's report of President Nixon's resignation, the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks and a New York newspaper from 1803, which was the oldest in his collection.

Long was born Aug. 15, 1950, in West Virginia. He was a retired Army major who also had a career in city management before he came to work at PHCC in 2001.

He was a member of New Port Richey's Historic Preservation Board and wrote about history, government and other topics for various publications.

Long is survived by his mother, Alice Long; fiancee, Susan Scheiner; daughter, Lisa Slagle; son, Brent Long; and two granddaughters.

Contributions in memory of Long may be made to the Civil War Preservation Trust at www.civilwar.org or at (202) 367-1861.

Reporter Ronnie Blair can be reached at (813) 948-4218 or rblair@tampatrib.com.

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