Dr. Idris R. Traylor

Dr. Idris R. Traylor, Jr., passed away on Saturday, February 7, after a brief illness and days following his 91st birthday. Dr. Traylor was born in Norman, Oklahoma, on February 4, 1935, to Idris Rhea Traylor and Betsy Elizabeth Bradney Traylor. He grew up and attended local schools in Greenville, Texas.

He attended the University of Texas at Austin and received his bachelor’s degree in the Honors Program in 1957, and his master’s degree in Russian and European history in 1959. He received his Ph.D.from Duke University in 1965.

He then spent a year and a half traveling throughout Europe and Russia and attending classes at the Sorbonne University of Paris. His education continued at Duke University, during which time he also studied history and international law and did research as a Fulbright Fellow at the University of Vienna, Austria, and in London.

In 1965, he accepted a professorial appointment at Texas Tech University, developing the undergraduate and graduate programs in Russian and East European history. As a professor, Traylor was involved in research and university committees, sponsoring several student organizations, such as the Student Senate. He served as chairman of several important university committees, including three presidential inaugurations.

In 1967, he was invited to become part of the university’s administration, first as Deputy Director, and then Director, of the International Center for Arid and Semi-Arid Land Studies (ICASALS). Traylor remained in administration for thirty-five years, although teaching a course each semester and continuing research and publication. In 1988, the university combined many of its units handling international activities into a new Office of International Affairs and Traylor was named its first Executive Director, an office elevated to Vice President, and served simultaneously as Director of the International Cultural Center. He remained in these positions until he retired in 2003, earning the emeritus honorific.

Traylor was also very involved in his community, serving on numerous boards and city committees and museums and hospitals and philanthropic agencies, and on a variety of Texas State committees and international organizations.

He was associated with programs of the U.S. State Department, served on a U.S. Trade Mission to Turkey, special projects in Yugoslavia, Egypt, Japan, Mexico, and with the United Nations Agency for Development Program in China, as well as other projects in various countries. He was a consultant to assist in establishing special international activities for Turkish universities, which resulted in his receiving an honorary doctoral degree from a major Turkish institution. Over several decades Traylor traveled for business or pleasure in almost eighty countries.

Dr. Traylor was a mentor and friend to countless men and women who passed through his classrooms, student organizations and civic organizations. He provided a living example of selfless servant leadership, leaving an indelible and lasting legacy on the many lives that he touched.

Traylor is survived by his nephew, Christopher R. “Chris” Traylor and wife Stephanie Muth, great nephew Fenner William “Will” Traylor and niece Betsy Claire Traylor. He his predeceased by his father Idris R Traylor, Sr., mother Betsy Traylor and brother Fred W. Traylor.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests contributions to the Idris R Traylor, Jr Scholarship in the Department of History at Texas Tech University, or a non-deductible donation in Dr. Traylor’s memory to the Kappa Alpha Gamma Chi house corporation building fund, payable to 28 Greek Circle II Holdings Building Fund at 76 South Lakeshore Drive, Ransom Canyon, Texas 79366.

A Celebration of Life will be held on Friday, February 13th at 2 o'clock at First United Methodist Church - 1411 Broadway St. Lubbock, Texas 79401.