A Champion of Students

Students and colleagues at the C. T. Bauer College of Business Department of Decision & Information Sciences (DISC) are mourning the passing of former Professor Everette S. Gardner, Jr., a foundational department chair and faculty member who also founded and led the Bauer Business Honors Program for many years.

“Because teaching provided Dr. Gardner with the means to connect with his students, he prided himself on doing it exceptionally well,” DISC Chair Norman Johnson said.

He added: “He taught courses at all levels and received college-wide teaching awards several times. However, his contributions and impact on teaching were likely greatest for students in the Honors Program at Bauer. For about 16 years, he led and defined what the teaching curricula were for the part of the UH Honors college program that resides in the business school. His work in the classroom was a constant source of inspiration to students and other faculty members.”

Associate Professor Elizabeth Anderson Fletcher, a colleague and friend of Gardner’s for more than 30 years, and the current Faculty Director of Bauer Honors, said Gardner was one of the most influential contributors to the fields of Forecasting and Inventory Control. A prolific researcher, he was named a Fellow of the International Institute of Forecasters, and a Fellow of the Honors College.

But it was Gardner’s devotion to the idea of creating an Honors program for business school students that most endures as a legacy, Fletcher said.

“He stepped up to the plate as the Founding Director when he was appointed by then-Dean Arthur Warga. His visionary leadership took an idea and turned it into reality.”

Honors academic advisor Colleen Davies said Gardner’s exceedingly busy academic schedule did not prevent him from Honors College involvement, even as the program’s initial 75 students grew to an annual enrollment of 350, supported by a devoted alumni group.

“When he spoke, others listened. He was our champion, an ardent supporter and willing to advocate on behalf of the Bauer Honors program to anyone and everyone,” she said.

Gardner’s careful attention to detail was a hallmark of everything he did, said Sarah Gnospelius, Administrative Director of Bauer Honors.

“When students walk into the Bauer Honors Commons, they will know Dr. Gardner because he saw the importance of having a physical space for our students to have a home away from home and convinced the college to invest in building a space for us.  In fact, he and I picked out every piece of furniture and square of carpet in the commons,” she said. 

“When our students take their Bauer Honors classes and look around to see only 24 other faces in the room, they will know Dr. Gardner.  He understood the importance of small discussion-based classes and promised our students that they would never get larger than that,” Gnospelius added. “And he made sure that would continue because he designed our classrooms with only 24 seats. Dr. Gardner was a true champion of students and left behind a lasting legacy in Bauer Honors.” 

Esther Bailey (MS ’09), a former Bauer Honors student who is now a Bauer faculty member, remains deeply appreciative of the guidance and opportunities Gardner gave her during her time in the Bauer Honors Program.

“Dr. Gardner embodied strong principles, firmly advocating for a rigorous education, diligent work ethic and serving others by inspiring the best in them,” she said. “Dr. Gardner’s work establishing and expanding the Bauer Honors Program has already begun to positively impact and will continue to benefit countless generations of Bauer students.”

Another former student, Lindsay Starkey (’09), said Gardner was the single most influential person to guide her into a career as a supply chain manager.

“His ability to show how he used each concept we learned in his real-world career was very impactful,” Starkey said. “He also taught his students to have pride in their work and pay attention to the soft skills, such as being able to write effectively.”

Gardner, born Oct. 3, 1944, led an impressive military career prior to joining the University of Houston, serving in Vietnam and retiring as a highly decorated U.S. Navy Commander.  Senior positions in inventory management and operations research in the military informed his scholarship and teaching. During his Navy years, Gardner received a master’s degree and Ph.D. in Business Administration from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. He and his wife, Mary Ann, raised daughters Cynthia Anne and Stacey Diane.

Gardner was devoted to his family, and also passionate about the Houston Astros and training therapy dogs that he then took into nursing homes and psych wards. He modeled for students the joy of serving others and pioneered the idea of community service as an aspect of Bauer Honors. Gardner also generously supported a Houston Astros Bauer Honors night at the ballpark each year.