Gary Glenven Sloan, Ph.D.

Dr. Gary Glenven Sloan passed away April 8, 2022, at the age of 78 following a lengthy illness.

Gary was born on February 6, 1944, in the small community of Lakeview, Texas. He attended Mount Vernon High School where he was a member of the National Honor Society, worked on the school newspaper, served as a Junior Rotarian, played football at offensive guard and defensive back (All District), and was voted Most Versatile.

After graduating from high school as salutatorian in 1962, Gary enrolled at East Texas State University, making him the first in his family to attend college. He was originally offered a College of the Ozarks football scholarship, but turned it down because he was more interested in academics.

After earning a bachelor’s degree in 1966, Gary served in the U.S. Army as a company clerk in Okinawa during the Vietnam War. After finishing his service, he attended graduate school at East Texas State University. It was there that he met his future wife, LaRue Love, and the two quickly formed a deep connection.

The couple wed, attended Texas Tech together (where they both earned Ph.Ds in English) and later had three children. In 1973, Gary accepted a teaching position at Louisiana Tech University. There, he served as the George Anding Professor of English until he retired in 1999. In these years, he taught thousands of students American Literature and Composition.

It was also during this period that Gary could be spotted riding his bicycle to work each day, an activity he enjoyed recreationally as well. Gary was an avid writer, with approximately 50 articles on literature and rhetoric published in academic journals such as College English, College Composition and Communication, English Journal, Studies in the Novel, Studies in Short Fiction, Journal of the Short Story in English, Explicator, RE Arts & Letters, and Victorian Newsletter. Additionally, he wrote articles for well-known online publications, as well as hundreds of letters to the editor in local news publications, advocating for critical thinking and free thought.

In his spare time, Gary enjoyed playing Scrabble, spending time with his wife, children and grandchildren, taking long drives in the country, and going for long walks around town as he recited memorized Shakespeare sonnets.

He was non-materialistic and lived his life in such a way as to show thoughtfulness, respect and consideration for people and the environment. He was very reflective, finding deeper meaning and broader perspectives in daily interactions and situations. Mild-mannered, Gary was slow to judge.

His typical calm demeanor and analytical thinking were delicately intertwined with compassion, devotion and kindness. Even during his final weeks living with Alzheimer’s, sparks of his inner goodness could be felt by those around him.

Gary will be sorely missed and remembered by his family, friends, former students and colleagues, acquaintances and the countless readers — past and future — who uncover new insights from his numerous publications.

He is preceded in death by parents, Guy and Faye Sloan; and his sister, Reba Latimer.

He is survived by LaRue Sloan, his wife of more than 50 years; children, Ben Sloan, Laura Sloan Seachord and husband Stephen, and Leah Sloan; grandchildren, Phoenix Dendera, Evan Sloan, and Dylan and Emma Seachord; siblings, Bonnie (Bud) Sloan and wife Mari Lynn, David Sloan and wife Joanne, Wendel Sloan, and Brenda Roberts; and a host of nieces and nephews, as well as great nieces and nephews and cousins.

The family would like to thank Stephanie, Amanda, Kim, and all the staff of Allegiance Hospice, as well as the kind nurses and staff of Princeton Place for their care of Gary.

A celebration of his life will be planned for a later date. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Alzheimer’s Foundation of America.