Winedale-l April 2026

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22 participants
5 discussions

Fwd: Honoring the Legacy of Ambassador D. Bruce Wharton (UT Austin/Plan II, 1970s)
by Michael Godwin 05 May '26

05 May '26

---------- Forwarded message --------- From: Michael Godwin <mnemonic(a)gmail.com> Date: Wed, Apr 29, 2026 at 9:24 AM Subject: Honoring the Legacy of Ambassador D. Bruce Wharton (UT Austin/Plan II, 1970s) To: <utmedia(a)utexas.edu>, <mike.rosen(a)utexas.edu>, <editor(a)thedailytexan.com>, <managingeditor(a)thedailytexan.com>, <news(a)thedailytexan.com> Cc: <jmgonzal(a)austin.utexas.edu>, Brokaw, Katherine S < katherine.brokaw(a)austin.utexas.edu>, <daniel.oppenheimer(a)utexas.edu> *Dear UT University Communications, The Daily Texan, and UT Leadership:* I am writing to share news of a deep loss to the University of Texas community and to suggest a way we might honor one of our distinguished alumni. On April 15, 2026, *Former U.S. Ambassador D. Bruce Wharton* passed away at the age of 72. Bruce was a 32-year veteran of the U.S. Foreign Service, a recipient of the Edward R. Murrow Award, and reached the highest tiers of American diplomacy as Acting Under Secretary of State. But before his global career took him from Latin America to his service as U.S. Ambassador to Zimbabwe (2012–2015), Bruce was a foundational member of the Shakespeare at Winedale program. I had the privilege of performing alongside him in 1979, and I have remained a part of that community through my own participation in 1980, 1981, and 1989, and through subsequent reunion events. It has been notable to see the profound and widespread tributes to Bruce in the Zimbabwean press, where he was regarded as a pillar of decency and generosity. His passing has yet to be recognized by any major American news outlet, however, or even the U.S. State Department, so far as I know There is a unique opportunity here for the University of Texas—specifically the *Daily Texan* and University Communications—to lead the way in commemorating a life that so perfectly exemplifies the Longhorn spirit. This is a story of a student who shared his powerful voice with us in a theater barn near Round Top and later used it to represent the United States with grace and distinction on the world stage. Since I first reached out to the *Texan* on April 20, a beautiful and extensive tribute has been published by the *Public Diplomacy Council of America*, featuring testimonies from more than 30 former ambassadors, senior State Department officials, career Foreign Service officers, and Zimbabwean citizens: Remembering Bruce Wharton <https://publicdiplomacy.org/remembering_bruce_wharton_by.php> . I am sharing this news with both the *Daily Texan* and University Communications in the hope that our campus media might be the first in the United States to properly document Bruce's legacy. Between the archived Winedale programs on our own servers and the availability of local sources like *Robert Faires* (former Arts Editor of the *Austin Chronicle *and Bruce’s Winedale classmate in 1978), the story is ready to be told with the local texture and depth it deserves. Robert's contact number is 512-567-5228 (Call or Text). Founding director of Shakespeare at Winedale, Professor Emeritus of English James B. Ayres, may be reached at jayres(a)mac.com or jayres(a)me.com. Bruce Wharton’s life was defined by what has been called his "warm humanity" and "quick wit." It would be a kind of homecoming if his home university were the one to first share his story with the American public. I am available at 202-763-3307 or mnemonic(a)gmail.com to facilitate introductions or provide further background. *Sincerely,* *Mike Godwin* *Former Editor-in-Chief, The Daily Texan* *UT Law Class of 1990* *Plan II Class of 1980*

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oooo let the fists of rage and pounding of tables commence
by Shawn Sides 05 May '26

05 May '26

What do y'all think? https://www.theguardian.com/stage/ng-interactive/2026/apr/22/every-shakespe…

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Re: Bruce Wharton
by Michael Godwin 28 Apr '26

28 Apr '26

There is a lovely collection of comments about Bruce Wharton on the website of the Public Diplomacy Council of America. It's here: https://publicdiplomacy.org/remembering_bruce_wharton_by.php I hope you enjoy it. Love to all! Mike On Tue, Apr 21, 2026 at 7:55 AM Heather Dolstra via Winedale-l < winedale-l(a)lists.wikimedia.org> wrote: > Bruce's wife, Julia Wharton, is on Facebook. As a theater person herself > I bet she would LOVE to hear some the Winedale memories you all have been > sharing. I, as usual, passed through too early. > > Heather Dolstra > > > > Sent from my Galaxy > > > -------- Original message -------- > From: Jeff W Ellinger via Winedale-l <winedale-l(a)lists.wikimedia.org> > Date: 4/18/26 10:55 PM (GMT-05:00) > To: winedale-l(a)lists.wikimedia.org > Subject: [Winedale-l] Bruce Wharton > > In the Winedale summer of 1979, Bruce was inspirational to all of us > with his boundless enthusiasm for the work and his brilliant approach > to the plays. My favorite memory of him was during a torrential > thunderstorm when he climbed to the roof peak of the Barn and defied > the lightning strikes around us as we mortals on the ground urged him > to come down. He didn't. May his memory inspire others with his > reckless courage and his love of the language and life found in these > plays. > Jeff Ellinger 1979 > _______________________________________________ > Winedale-l mailing list -- winedale-l(a)lists.wikimedia.org > To unsubscribe send an email to winedale-l-leave(a)lists.wikimedia.org > _______________________________________________ > Winedale-l mailing list -- winedale-l(a)lists.wikimedia.org > To unsubscribe send an email to winedale-l-leave(a)lists.wikimedia.org >

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Some news (Bruce Wharton)
by Michael Godwin 27 Apr '26

27 Apr '26

According to reports I'm getting from Zimbabwean friends, former U.S. Ambassador David Bruce Wharton has died. I don't have much more news than that. I expect there will be obituaries in the national press tomorrow. For those who may not know him, Bruce Wharton (we knew him as Zimbabweans knew him, as "Bruce") attended Shakespeare-at-Winedale in 1978 and 1979. Even those of us who do know him may not know that he was beloved by Zimbabweans. [image: image.png]

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Bruce Wharton
by Jeff W Ellinger 21 Apr '26

21 Apr '26

In the Winedale summer of 1979, Bruce was inspirational to all of us with his boundless enthusiasm for the work and his brilliant approach to the plays. My favorite memory of him was during a torrential thunderstorm when he climbed to the roof peak of the Barn and defied the lightning strikes around us as we mortals on the ground urged him to come down. He didn't. May his memory inspire others with his reckless courage and his love of the language and life found in these plays. Jeff Ellinger 1979

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