memory Houk and son tourRussia

Dr . J.T. Houk, professor of economics atLBC,skipped summer school to spend 35 days touring Russia with his 16-year-old son,Tick

"Ifeltitwas my responsibility as a parent to teach my son about the world," Houk said "Russia is a very important country with a variety of people,languages and resources.It is also the number one opponent of the United States in the field of economics,politics and philosophy. I wanted to expose him to this."

Dr Houk and his son leftthe United States in June 1980 and flew to Tokyo, Japan, where they boarded a boat that took them to Nakhodka, Russia. Here they began themain part of their trip by taking the longest train ride in the world—6,135 miles across Russia

Houk said he felt that a train ride would be more beneficial to them than a plane flight

"A train is a way to see the country," he said "We stopped at hundreds of towns along the way and were allowed a few minutes at each one to get out and walk around."

Houk said thathe and hisson were

Dr.Houk explains economic principles toPaul Halselyafterclass.Houk thinksonecan benefit from knowledge offoreign economic systems, hence hisRussian trip.

Dr Paul Cho, LBC political science professor since 1977, said goodbye to his wife and children before leaving for the University of West Virginia lastJanuary tocontinue work on his doctorate.

Littledid he know that itwould be for the lasttime.

Dr Cho delivered hisfinaldissertationdrafttotheUniversity on Jan 12, 1981.

Rain pelted the Morgantown, W Va roads and the cold night air gave them an icy glaze as he traveled back to Lynchburg

Cho's car crossed a patch of ice, causing him to lose control of hiscar and smash into atree.

He was killed instantly

Shock and sadness mingled with grief filled the hearts of Cho's students as well as his colleagues.

"Iam certainly going tomiss him," one student said "Sometimes it was hard to think of him as my professor because I thought of him as my friend."

Dr Cho was survived by his wife Barbara,and their son Jesse,10,and daughter Tobey,4

The University of West Virginia posthumously presented Dr Cho's doctorate to his son, Jesse -Lori A. Davis • allowed todo asthey pleased whilein Russiaalthoughttheywere stoppedat the border where the guards tookall their Chrisitan literature away from them

"They pulled out the tracts in my suitcase,which weren't hidden, and made a big fuss about it. They questionedusfor fourhoursand finally let us go We were allowed tokeep only twoBibles and twotracts," Houk said.

Despite this problem, Houk, who had learned Russian while in the Navy, was able to speak in several Russian churches.

"I felt the Lord was directing my triptoRussia,"Houk said "This was confirmed when I was ableto speakin four Russian churches Ihad memorized a sermon in Russian and was ableto speak when theyasked me to."

Houk said his trip taught him things which will help him in his class lectures.

"I teach economics and Russia has an economic system quite different from ours.Itwas interesting tolearn about itfirsthand," he said Houk was most impressed with Russia'svastness, its potentialandits resources.

"What impressed me the least was thepeople,"he said. "They seemed to be very somber and sad They also seemed tobe very close-mouthed and notveryfriendly They had asubdued spirit."

Houk feels he and his son learned much from their trip.

"I have seen with my eyes what I formerly sensed This trip confirmed some oftheimpressions Ihad before I went," Houk said "As for my son, I feel he will grow from the experience -Sherri M. Popovitch •