Professor Emeritus of Anatomy, Indiana University School of Medicine
Passed by the IUPUI Faculty Council at their meeting on March 6, 2003.
We regret the recent loss of Dr. Charles E. Blevins, past chair and Professor Emeritus of Anatomy, who died December 29, 2002 following complications from a stroke. He is survived by his loving wife, Jean, of 54 years, daughters and sons-in-law, Charean and Dan Marshall and Deb and Jim Wood, and his 3 grandchildren Adrienne, Alex, and Lindsay.
Dr. Blevins received his Bachelor's degree and a Master's degree in Biology from Stanford University and began his academic career in 1949 as an instructor in anatomy and physiology at two California community colleges, Glendale College and Contra Costa College. He returned to graduate school at the University of California, San Francisco and earned his Ph.D. in Anatomy in 1961. He accepted a position as an assistant professor at the University of Washington, and his early career included positions at Baylor University College of Medicine and Northwestern University School of Medicine. In 1973 he was recruited to Indianapolis to become the chairman of the Department of Anatomy at Indiana University School of Medicine where he served for 16 years. His presence bolstered the teaching component in the department and during his tenure the department grew and attracted faculty who were solid teach rs and capable researchers. In addition to his administrative duties, he carried a heavy teaching load, indicative of his genuine enthusiasm for professional and graduate student instruction and the discipline. He remained in the department until his retirement in 1994.
His doctoral research focused on the acoustic system using animal models having a highly developed or prominent sense of hearing. Subsequently he published a series of papers in the early-to-mid 1960s that were considered important original contributions to the auditory field at that time. By tracing the anatomic innervation patterns of both middle ear and laryngeal muscles, he provided novel insights into the function of the middle ear reflex and its link to vocalization.
Dr. Blevins' life passion was teaching young people. He taught and directed courses in human gross anatomy for medical, dental, and physical therapy students and participated in curriculum design for over 30 years. He received awards for excellence in teaching from Baylor University College of Medicine and Northwestern University School of Medicine. He was an invited guest lecturer to many medical schools, including Stanford University, Northwestern University, University of Guadalajara in Mexico, and University of Manchester in England. Dr. Blevins was one of a vanishing number of classically trained anatomists who made skillful anatomic drawings with colored chalk during his lectures. Such "art" was very much the medium used at that time for teaching and conveying 3-D spatial concepts. High tech back then was not animated PowerPoint slides, but rather colored chalk that came to life beneath UV light. Later, however, he also saw the potential of computers for assisting and directing student learning of human anatomy. During a sabbatical to his alma mater of Stanford, he observed first-hand the development of the "Electronic Cadaver ' and offered insights as an accomplished classroom instructor to an innovative tool and supplement to dissection. Throughout his career his dedication, passion, and enthusiasm for anatomy and its communication were readily recognized and appreciated by students. He has been described by his students as "a kind and helpful gentleman," "an excellent and enthusiastic professor," and his personal instruction in the laboratory was "excellent and much appreciated."
Dr. Blevins was a former member of the American Association of Anatomists and a current member of the American Association of Clinical Anatomists (AACA) and served on the editorial board of its journal, Clinical Anatomy, until his death.
Dr. Blevins wrote several chapters in T.W. Shields' clinical textbook, General Thoracic Surgery before his retirement and continued to actively contribute in anatomy thereafter by reviewing manuscripts and anatomy atlases and attending the annual meetings of the AACA.
On a personal level, Charlie was an avid swimmer, a fan of IU football, and he enjoyed long vigorous walks before being slowed down by a hip joint replacement. He had a good sense of humor and fondly kidded about the divergent paths he and a former college roommate, actor Jack Palance, took. Charlie enjoyed the pleasures of unstructured time during retirement to travel inside and outside the country and to return to his love of playing the saxophone. He played in a band while at Stanford years ago and took it up again after he and Jean moved to Cave reek, Arizona. There, he played for fun and enjoyment in the Desert Foothills New Horizons Band. Charlie was very active in their local church, Good Shepherd of the Hills Episcopal Church and could always be counted on to greet friends and strangers with a warm smile and a twinkle in his eye. It can truly be said that he never knew a stranger! He enjoyed engaging people in conversation. We remember and honor Dr. Blevins for his warmth of character his dedication to students and their learning, and his love of family and friends.
Be it resolved that this memorial resolution be presented to the Faculty Council of Indiana University-Purdue University at Indianapolis and that copies be sent to his wife Jean, of Cave Creek, Arizona.
Michael J. Kubek, Ph.D.
Richard G. Peterson, Ph.D.
Mark F. Seifert, Ph.D.
Donald Wong Ph.D.
Please send copies to: Mrs. Jean Blevins 4512 E. Hunter Court Cave Creek AZ 85331