June 1, 2001

South Bend, IN –

Word has been received of the death of Walter Langford, a member of the Notre Dame faculty for 42 years and a longtime coach of the University’s varsity tennis and fencing teams. Langford died Feb. 28 in St. Louis after an illness. He was 92.

A 1930 graduate of Notre Dame, Langford began teaching at the University a year later, specializing in Spanish and Portuguese instruction and Mexican literature. He served as chair of the modern languages department from 1946-59 and was the author of “The Mexican Novel Comes of Age.”

From 1961-63, he organized the first U.S. overseas training program for Peace Corps volunteers, as director of the agency’s Chilean program. He also served a year as director of Notre Dame’s Sophomore Year Abroad Program.

Langford coached varsity tennis at Notre Dame from ’40-’53, compiling a record of 95-30 and earning a three-way share of the 1944 NCAA championship. He also coached the Irish fencing team from ’40-’43 and again from ’51-’61, with a record of 155-35.

Langford was honored twice for his multiple contributions to Notre Dame: in 1959. with the Lay Faculty Award for distinguished service, and upon his retirement in 1973, with a Presidential Citation from the University’s then president, Rev. Theodore M. Hesburgh, C.S.C. He earned a master of modern languages degree from the National University of Mexico in ’37, served as president of the Catholic Association of Foreign Language Teachers in ’57-’58 and was active in the Modern Language Association.

Langford’s wife of 44 years, Alice, died in 1975. He later married Mary Goebel, who survives, along with four children. His son Jim is director emeritus of Notre Dame Press, and daughter Lois is married to William Berry, professor of electrical engineering at Notre Dame. Father Hesburgh celebrated a memorial Mass for Langford on March 8 at the Basilica of the Sacred Heart.

Memorial contributions can be sent to the Walter and Alice Langford Scholarship Fund at Notre Dame or to There Are Children Here, a camp for at-risk children directed by Jim Langford and his wife, Jill, at 21550 New Road, Lakeville, IN 46536.