A work of heart

Featheringham: I've always wanted
to be a teacher

Richard Featheringham retired in 2007 after 50 years of teaching – the last 36 years in CMU’s College of Business Administration. The business information systems professor also was the Alpha Kappa Psi business fraternity advisor for 35 years.

But his teaching experience goes far beyond that. The 72-year-old Featheringham remembers holding class at his parents’ home when he was a young boy.

“I always wanted to be a teacher, even when I was little. I remember setting up a little classroom and having my friends over and passing out quizzes and worksheets,” he said. “I’d teach geography and some business. My older sister Shirley was learning shorthand at the time, so I gave a lesson on that.”

In high school, Featheringham had an “outstanding” business teacher, and when he was an undergraduate student at Kent State University, he had another exceptional business professor.

“They were both so good. They worked us really hard, and it was much appreciated,” he said. “They motivated me. I tried to copy them eventually.”

Featheringham said he taught at several universities before settling in Mount Pleasant. He lists off the colleges – Kent State University, University of Akron, University of Alaska, University of Montana, University of North Dakota, and New Brunswick University in Canada.

So why did he stay at CMU?

“It just felt good. My wife, Audrey, and I really liked the university and town,” he said. “We had small kids at the time and this town and university are very family friendly. People are nice, and the College of Business Administration is fantastic.

“It was the best decision I’ve ever made.”

Then Featheringham, who has been married to Audrey for 48 years, clarified. “That was the best decision that I’ve ever made – professionally.”

Featheringham honored at
2007 Homecoming

Picking up his phone last spring, Featheringham, ’81, ’84 M.M., said he almost couldn’t believe what he heard.

The Mount Pleasant resident and faculty emeritus was given the news that he was named Homecoming 2007’s Grand Marshal.

“Well, I was surprised to say the least,”
he said humbly.

Business information systems associate professor Nancy Csapo says even though Featheringham was surprised, she was not.

Not only was he one of her coworkers, he was one of Csapo’s professors. Just as Featheringham was motivated by his two business teachers, he had a student look
up to him.

“Dr. Featheringham inspired me to teach. He is a great man and teacher. Both Dr. and Mrs. Featheringham are the best people to represent CMU,” Csapo said. “They are at every event, they get there early. They are the type of people you look at and say, ‘I wish I could be like them.’”

CMU business music to his ears

In addition to earning bachelor’s and master’s degrees at Kent State and a doctoral degree in business from University of North Dakota, Featheringham earned two degrees in musicaleducation while at CMU.

He says he uses the musical education in his duties as substitute organist and bell choir director at his church, First Presbyterian Church in Mount Pleasant. He and Audrey contribute to CMU in numerous ways, including the Richard D. Featheringham Endowed Music Scholarship.

Csapo says in addition to organist duties, Featheringham recently took a cooking class and is teaching two classes this fall.

So why doesn’t Featheringham relax during his retirement?

“This is my 51st year of teaching. It is something that is a part of me, so it’s hard to leave,” he said. “But my wife and I have travel plans, so we are both really going to enjoy this time. It is nice having so much time with her.”

Between their trips, Featheringham said he will continue to support the College of Business Administration and CMU.

“You really cannot get too much of this place,” he said. “I have wonderful memories here and many more to come.”