Kermit Eubank Mckenzie

Dr. Kermit E. McKenzie, PhD. was born to W. Leftwich McKenzie and Mary Kate (Eubank) McKenzie in Hanover County, Virginia in 1924.  His family struggled through the Great Depression, but Kermit flourished academically as a young man.   In 1943 he entered the United States Army and fought with the 9th infantry division (47th regiment) in the European theater.  He obtained the rank of sergeant and received two purple hearts.   In 1947 he graduated from the University of Richmond.  He received his Masters in 1949, followed by his PhD. in History in 1960, both from Columbia University in New York.   He also completed a program at the Russian Institute in Moscow, (then) USSR, in 1947. Professor McKenzie taught Russian and Soviet history at Emory University in Atlanta from 1960 until 1995.  Dr. McKenzie could converse in at least four languages and could read several more.  He was a self-made man who advocated and embodied the success that a good education can create.  Dr. McKenzie was the author of Comintern and World Revolution, 1928-1943: The Shaping of Doctrine, as well as other articles and books related to history.  Late in his career he wrote about Chokan Valikhanov, a Kazakh born descendant of Ghengis Kahn. A long time resident of Atlanta, Dr. McKenzie was a true southern gentleman.  A brilliant but humble man, he rarely spoke ill of others.   He loved his country but not always his politicians.  In 1967, Dr. McKenzie took an early stance against the Viet Nam war.   He not only opposed U.S. intervention, he spoke out to "counter the ridiculous and profoundly anti-democratic notion that participation in warfare imposes a moratorium on free and critical inquiry respecting the rightness or wrongness of that participation." Throughout his life Dr. McKenzie was an avid chess player.  He won tournaments at Emory and in Atlanta in the late 1960's.  He loved to travel the world and even took cruises with his wife, Mary Burton McKenzie, down the Danube and the Nile rivers, despite suffering from a major stroke in 1998.   He was a friend to countless cats who were bestowed with exotic names such as "Kubla Khan," "Maximilian" and "Marcus Aurelius." Dr. McKenzie always cheered for the underdog and the little guy.   Barely surviving the Depression, he was a fan of FDR and a life-long Democrat.  Despite his keen intellect, he always kept up with the Braves and the Falcons, no matter how bad the season.  Dr. McKenzie was a kind and humble man who will be greatly missed.  He is survived by his loving wife of 40 years, Mary Burton McKenzie, his children: Joan Baker, Victoria Carriger, Charles Finlayson, Valerie McKenzie and Leigh Finlayson, grandchildren: Cindy Ivey, Beth Finlayson, Timothy Harry, Annathea Baker, Elanor Finlayson and Samuel Finlayson, and one great-granddaughter:  Bethany Ivey.   A memorial service will be held on Sunday, March 30, 2008 at 2:00 PM at The Church of the Epiphany Episcopal Church.  A.S. Turner & Sons is handling arrangements.  In lieu of flowers please make donations to the Georgia Justice Project, 438 Edgewood Ave., N.E., Atlanta, GA 30312