Library meeting room named in honor of Stukes

FLORENCE — The meeting room at the Drs. Bruce & Lee Foundation Library has been named in honor of a retired Francis Marion University history professor by the Friends of the Florence County Library.

“I am all but overwhelmed by this,” Dr. Joe Stukes said. “It’s been wonderful to work with the friends. They’re agreeable, very helpful and, of course, they provide me with an opportunity to get some of those teaching vibes out of me that are there.”

Francie Dunlap, the Florence County Library development officer, said Stukes has been a driving force for quality adult programming in the library system.

“Joe’s creativity knows no bounds,” she said. “The programs he presents have educated and entertained high school students as well as retirees, all of whom are in awe of his prodigious memory and faultless presentation.

“Friends of Florence County Library are proud to name the library’s meeting room after this singular man. He has given us a cache and recognition that we would not otherwise have.”

Ray McBride, the director of the Drs. Bruce & Lee Foundation Library, lauded Stukes’ historical knowledge.

“We have to really give Joe the credit,” McBride said. “He’s been doing this for 15 years, but only for four years in the library. His programs draw a lot of folks from surrounding communities. We are extremely honored and proud to name this meeting room for Dr. Joe Stukes.”

The program McBride is referring to is The Joe Stukes History Series. The next one will be Feb. 12 in recognition of Abraham Lincoln’s 200th birthday.

Stukes will be the narrator, along with the Rev. Will Malambri and Dr. Carlanna Hendrick as observers. Dr. Benjamin Woods will be the musical accompanist.

“The performers will present Lincoln as a person who attained a legendary career despite mammoth obstacles,” Stukes said, “a man who met defeat and disappointments as well as outstanding victories.”

Stukes said Lincoln married into the privileged class and, despite his humble beginnings, he overcame his many social deficiencies.

“We’re not so much going to portray Lincoln as a political figure, but as an individual who was caught up in the maelstrom of a terrible division of America,” he said. “He was afraid that the union was in danger.

“He saw the secession of the Southerners as a challenge to the idea that we couldn’t get along. He also said that he was the president of the United States and that there was no such thing as the Confederacy.

“We want to show some of Lincoln’s life as to how he grew with practically no education. He chuckled at the fact that he, who had been to school less than a year, had a son at Harvard.”

But Lincoln also had family strains. Stukes said he suffered from depression and his wife “seemed terribly imbalanced and erratic.”

“Putting aside family tragedies, the program will portray Lincoln as (a) person living in crisis, uncertain of daily steps, but determined to adhere to his goals toward making America a mighty republic,” Stukes said.

History’s most significant presidents, in Stukes’ opinion, are Andrew Jackson, Abraham Lincoln, Theodore Roosevelt and Franklin Roosevelt.

His favorite president to portray is Teddy Roosevelt.

“Teddy was such a character on his own,” Stukes said. “He was not only a most significant president, but he liked a famous expression that is trite now. That expression is, ‘He wanted to be the bride at every wedding and the corpse at every funeral.’”