Dr. Herbert H. Lang

Herbert Howard Lang, 84 of Beaumont died Thursday, January 5, 2006 in Beaumont, Texas, after watching his beloved Texas Longhorns win the National Championship. Visitation will be Saturday, January 7, 2006 from 6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. at Brenham Memorial Chapel. Graveside services will be conducted by Rev. Cecilia Smith at Prairie Lea Cemetery in Brenham on Sunday, January 8, 2006 at 1:00 p.m.

Dr. Lang was born on August 16, 1921 in New York City, the son of Edward and Estelle Lang. He served in the U.S. Navy during World War II, where he met his wife, Elizabeth Brian Lang. Following the war, Dr. Lang moved to Texas and received his BA, MA, and PhD from the University of Texas. He taught briefly at the New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology in Socorro, New Mexico before joining the faculty in the History Department at Texas A&M University in 1956. In 1965 he became a Full Professor, and in 1970, the Association of Former Students gave him an Achievement Award. At the ceremony, he said, “To me, Liberal Arts implies liberating arts-liberating man from the tyranny of outmoded man-made habits, assumptions, and institutions, which hem him in, make him unfree, and restrict the development of his hightest potential.” In 1979 he was the editor and wrote the introduction to Pat Nixon of Texas: Autobiography of a Doctor, which was published by the Texas A&M Press. When he retired in 1984, he was named a Professor Emeritus. In 1992 he was recognized as one of the pioneers of the Honors Program at A&M.

He was preceded in death by Brian, his wife of 58 years; his parents; and a sister, Laura Kelly. He is survived by a daughter, Emily Rhine, and a grandson, Eric Rhine.

Funeral services are in the care of Brenham Memorial Chapel, 2300 Stringer Street, Brenham. 979-836-3611 www.brenham-memorial-chapel.com