Dr. George Whitesel

But let's not forget it was CAST founding member George Whitesel, now a retired librarian at JSU's Houston Cole Library, who gave CAST its name: Community Actors' Studio Theatre.

Three such people are Lee Manners, Pati Tiller and George Whitesel.
...
Pati Tiller and George Whitesel, experienced and professional actors are again on stage in CAST Theatre's "The Rainmaker" by Richard Nash.
...
Kim Dobbs, artistic director of CAST, has picked Pati Tiller as "Lizzie" the female spinster seeking love, and George Whitesel as the Sheriff.
...
Whitesel is retired but remains busy at JSU and with CAST.

"One never stops learning" is his motivation.

Although it's a wonder he has time for reading mysteries and traveling, these are two of Whitesel's delights.The librarian is quoted in "The Rainmaker" program as saying he is glad to be working with fine actors in a classic play.

George Whitesel

George Whitesel has been active in the local acting scene since 1975. He is a founding member of CAST and has been a Member-At-Large of the Board of Directors for multiple terms. His first appearance on stage was at age eight at Western College. He brings many years acting experience, appearing in dramas mounted by several universities, including Kent State and Miami University, as well as regional theatres. He holds a Ph.D. in English from Michigan State University and retired (Professor Emeritus) from Jacksonville State University in 2006. He is President of the Jacksonville Arts Council and active in several local organizations and St Luke's Episcopal Church.

Dr. George Whitesel, assistant librarian and faculty member at JSU portrays Nicky, the warlock uncle.Whitesel is a familiar face in college and community productions.
...
Whitesel is taking hours out from a very busy schedule to be on stage, but loves theater and says he can't resist it.

Hervey Folsom: George Whitesel retires after long career at JSU

10-04-2006

George Whitesel is something of a magician in the library to those who frequent Houston Cole Library's sixth floor at Jacksonville State University.I have noticed that if you ask him a question, this librarian can pull up facts, quotations, and events from his mind on the subject like a wizard pulling a rabbit from a hat!

Of course, that's because he is so skilled in his specialty - the fine arts and languages, and he vividly remembers important events that he has seen and read.Combined with this expertise, Whitesel likes to help those people who step off the elevator and come into his office to start a research paper, a speech, an article, a book, or simply to find out more on a subject.

People leave the library with the information they asked for and seem inspired to dig for further accounts on their own.The reason?I think Whitesel has a knack for making the topic more intriguing.

George Whitesel retired as full professor and assistant librarian from JSU in the late summer, but, to nobody's surprise, he remains busy.He can be found working away part time in the library now and is teaching an English course.

Friends and co-workers gathered one afternoon recently in the library to celebrate his 31-year career at the library.

Whitesel received not only an honorarium and a recognition plaque for loyal service to JSU, signed by Rebecca O. Turner, vice-president for Academic Student Affairs, and JSU President Dr. William A. Meehan, the scholar received lots of kind words from friends and library patrons who appreciate the Cincinnati-born librarian who made Jacksonville his home.
...
Whitesel is modest in responding to compliments from library users.
...
"Each time I can put the right book in a patron's hand, it's a double pay-off," Whitesel said.

"It's been enormously interesting, every step of the way," Whitesel said."My ambition was to be a part of a university and see it grow and I've had a chance to do that."

Whitesel has perused the bombing of Dresden, Germany, in World War II, and the findings after that.

Whitesel has answered queries on the specific floor plan of the historic Alhambra Palace, now one of the great art treasures in Spain, and he has gone beneath the surface in what's known about the Alamo in Texas.And when his friends needed it, he has encouraged them.

Judy Meyer, who is working toward her master's degree in art at JSU, remembers vital aid from Whitesel when she was doing a research paper for a literature class last summer.She was to research Eugene O'Neill's play, "A Long Day's Journey Into Night".

"Dr. Whitesel could talk about the subject immediately," she remembers.Whitesel then showed her around the sixth floor.

"Once I had exhausted a few sources and sat down at the table, Dr. Whitesel kept coming back with more books," she said."Soon, I had a sky-high pile of information and a smile on my face.The research was beginning to be fun."

"Dr. Whitesel is a walking encyclopedia," declares Patsy Frost, secretary to the university librarian, William Hubbard.
...
Times are different now at the library compared to when Whitesel came in 1975 after completing his master's of library science at University of Michigan and has seen the amount of technology make great advances in the library with the use of computers and the software that goes with it.And he has seen the campus population double in size, which pleases him greatly.

Whitesel has also found time for constructive fun.

He took the title role in the Anniston Community Theatre's "Critic's Choice" where his challenge was long dialogue and being on stage practically all the time.He continues to appear in CAST plays.

The librarian has been active in the Jacksonville Arts Council and Gamma of Alabama's chapter of Phi Beta Kappa, and has served on St. Luke Episcopal Church's vestry.

William Hubbard, University Librarian, thinks highly of Whitesel.
...
"Dr. Whitesel's most lasting contribution at Houston Cole Library is to the many JSU students he has helped," stated Hubbard.
...
As a user of his knowledge and service at Houston Cole Library, I give George Whitesel an A plus.

A fellow librarian at Jacksonville State University's Houston Cole Library, George Whitesel, says he remembers when the public library first moved to its present location and remembers thinking the location would be good because of its short distance from the square.

"I think they've done a wonderful job," Whitesel said.

George Whitesel, president

Jacksonville Arts Council

Dr. Whitesel

Many young people incorrectly think that libraries are becoming outdated.

"Not a chance," according to Jacksonville State University's Dr. George Whitesel, professor and assistant librarian.

"Economic forces alone, such as copyright restrictions and the high cost of going electronic will keep traditional libraries in business," says Dr. Whitesel.

"More important, gaps exist in electronic offerings that only a visit to the library can fill.People seriously looking for reliable, quality information will have to keep a foot in both worlds."

And Whitesel points out that there's nothing like a friendly librarian when you run into trouble on a homework assignment or research project.

"The people of bricks-and-mortar libraries can and will sympathize with a student's burning desire to find something.
...
A librarian's specialized knowledge can be quickly brought to bear on a patron's research problem," Whitesel says.

Librarians at JSU's Houston Cole Library - and at most any library you'll ever enter - try to teach people at every level how to find things.

...
There is always something new, and John has been very busy," Whitesel said.
...
This experience makes college work much easier," Whitesel said.

Adults also find that there's no substitute for a bricks-and-mortar library.

According to Whitesel, "People enjoy learning about the history of the live.Consequently, JSU's history floor is often populated with genealogists looking up their family's ancestors.They want to know things like: where did they live and what did they own?Did they vote?What were the names of their children?"

...
Whitesel says, "With its pillars, glass walls, and portraits of Civil War legend The Gallant Pelham, this is one of the most elegant spaces in Houston Cole Library.Most important, however, the space houses a large number of one-of-a-kind publications, such as the master's thesis of Jack Dwight Boozer, Jacksonville, 1833-46.It is not the market value but the information content that makes a book like this such a prize.

"Whatever you need to check up on concerning the doings of your forebears, you have a good chance to find it in the library.One man found a phrase in medical Latin on his great-grandfather's death certificate.What did it mean?
...
For more information, you can contact Dr. Whitesel at 782-5246.