In Memoriam: Associate Professor Emeritus Dorman Picklesimer, Jr.

A native of West Van Lear, Ky., and one of 12 children, Dr. Picklesimer was the first in his family to attend college, graduating from Morehead State College. He joined the BC faculty in 1969 in what was then the Speech, Communication, and Theatre Department, teaching courses in rhetoric and related subjects. He also was an organizer of the Leonard Persuasive Speaking Contest for undergraduates and was involved with the University’s venerable Fulton Debating Society, which chose him for its signature Fultonian of the Year honor in 2001.

In 1987, Dr. Picklesimer served as moderator for a high-profile campus debate between former radical Abbie Hoffman and G. Gordon Liddy, a one-time FBI agent who later became embroiled in the Watergate scandal. Besides their clashing sociopolitical views, The Heights reported, there was a personal dynamic between the two: Hoffman claimed Liddy had planned to kidnap him and take him to Mexico so Hoffman wouldn’t be able to protest at the 1972 Republican Convention.

“Debate is the hallmark of a democratic society," said Dr. Picklesimer in his introduction, according to The Heights.

During the event, Hoffman brought up the alleged kidnapping plot, and Liddy remarked that he had held numerous debates with individuals he had arrested.

“I debate Mr. Hoffman tonight, but I have not yet had the pleasure of arresting Mr. Hoffman,” said Liddy.

 "There's always hope," Hoffman retorted.

Dr. Picklesimer also had a scholarly interest in what constituted propaganda, and how it might be used. In a 1986 column for the Boston College Biweekly, he noted criticism in some quarters about how popular films such as “Rambo” and “Rocky IV” were aggressively jingoistic for the Cold War era. Dr. Picklesimer then went on to discuss propaganda throughout the history of film (based on research he had undertaken supported by a Mellon Foundation Grant), including a comparison of how the American, British, Soviet, and Nazi Germany film industries supported their respective governments’ efforts at making patriotic appeals to the populace.

“Although playwrights, composers, poets, novelists, and artists have long been criticized for using their works to further particular causes,” he wrote, “the film industry (largely because of film’s availability to the masses) has received the strongest criticism—especially when film has been used to try to arouse a populace to take up arms and fight a war.”

Dr. Picklesimer, who was department chair from 1986-1989, was elected to the College of Arts and Sciences Faculty Senate in 1982 and later served as president.

Among his other noteworthy non-teaching duties was serving as academic advisor to Eagles star quarterback and Heisman Trophy winner Doug Flutie ’85, who was a Rhodes Scholarship finalist.

Dr. Picklesimer also was among the first participants in the Faculty Fellow Program, which was introduced during the 1986-1987 academic year to promote a more personal experience and environment for students by encouraging them to form mentor relationships through informal association with faculty, administrators, and staff.

Upon his retirement in 2002, Boston College honored his legacy by establishing the Dorman Picklesimer Jr. Award, presented annually to exceptional communication majors.  

Dr. Picklesimer began his academic career as a high school theater teacher, directing productions of “The Diary of Anne Frank” and “Our Town,” among other plays, before serving in the United States Army for two years. He later earned a master’s degree from Bowling Green University and a doctorate from Indiana University.  

Dr. Picklesimer was predeceased by his wife, Claudette. He is survived by his son Gregory Picklesimer (husband of Carla); daughter Stephanie Picklesimer Loprete (wife of Lawrence); granddaughter Hannah Picklesimer; and great grandson Danny Picklesimer.