January 19, 2012-Durham, N.C. – Charles Edwin Bishop, President Emeritus of the University of Houston, died Saturday, Jan. 14, in Durham, N.C.



Bishop received a Bachelor of Science degree from Berea College, and following World War II he earned a master's degree at the University of Kentucky and a Ph.D. in economics at The University of Chicago.



Bishop began his career in higher education at North Carolina State University, serving as a professor, head of the department of agricultural economics and head of the department of economics. In 1966 Bishop was appointed vice president of the University of North Carolina, and in 1970 became the first chancellor of the University of Maryland at College Park.  In 1974 he was appointed president of the five-campus system of the University of Arkansas. Bishop moved to Houston in 1980 to become president of the four-campus University of Houston System.  He retired from the University of Houston in 1986.  Following retirement, Bishop returned to Chapel Hill, N.C., where he worked for several years with the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and with MDC, a nonprofit organization. 

Bishop received many awards and commendations during his distinguished career. He was a fellow and president of the American Agricultural Economics Association and a member of the honor societies of Phi Kappa Phi, Sigma Xi and Gamma Sigma Delta.  Bishop served as a U.S. Army flight instructor during World War II and was appointed to advisory positions by Presidents Johnson, Nixon and Carter.

Bishop was preceded in death by his wife, Lillian Neal Bishop. He is survived by three children, four grandchildren and one great grandchild.

A memorial service was held in Durham, N.C., on Wednesday (Jan. 18).  Memorial contributions may be made to the Bishop Scholarship Fund at Berea College, Berea, Ky., 40404; or to the Benevolence Fund at Croasdaile Village, Durham, N.C., 27705.

More information about Bishop's life and contributions can be found at newsobserver.com.