A Tribute to Fred H. Bess

In the fall of 1978 when I arrived at Vanderbilt University for my master's degree in audiology, Fred H. Bess was head of Audiology and the recently appointed director of the Bill Wilkerson Center. Of course, I had no idea at that time that our meeting would mark the beginning of a more than 30-year relationship with his role defined, at different times, as mentor, colleague, and, most importantly, friend. What a pleasure it is to have the honor of serving as guest editor for this tribute, or festschrift. In academia, a festschrift is a book honoring a respected academic presented during his or her lifetime, also translated from the German as “celebration publication,” typically published on the occasion of the honoree's retirement.

I would be hard pressed to find anyone who has made more of a contribution to the field of audiology than Fred H. Bess. Of all his professional contributions, probably the one of which he is most proud is that of teacher/mentor. Like a gratified father, Fred Bess basks in the accomplishments of his current and former students and, like anxious children, we strive to live up to his high standards. That is why this issue of Seminars in Hearing is written entirely by his former students from Central Michigan and Vanderbilt Universities. For me, this festschrift reflects what I have come to know about Fred Bess over the last 30 years. It was best expressed by Harry Truman when he said, “It is amazing what you can accomplish if you do not care who gets the credit.” He taught many of us how to write our first articles, without taking any credit, and now it is our honor to write for him.

As you read each of these articles, I believe you will be impressed by Fred Bess's wide range of audiological interests. Judy Gravel, Rebecca Fischer, and Patricia Chase review the important role he has played in the development of screening protocols for auditory impairments in children. Minimal degrees of hearing loss in children would not have garnered the attention of the audiology community that it has were it not for the efforts of Fred Bess. His work and the work he inspired in this area are reviewed by Anne Marie Tharpe, Douglas Sladen, Jeanne Dodd-Murphy, and Stephen Boney. Although many of us think his primary influence has been in pediatric audiology, he has had an equally important role in examining the impact of hearing loss in the elderly as is apparent in the contribution by Brad Stach, Benjamin Hornsby, Mia Rosenfeld, and Al DeChicchis. Larry Humes, Jayne Ahlstrom, Gene Bratt, and Barbara Peek expand on this topic by presenting us with current research to support a specific guideline for early intervention with the elderly population. Fred Bess's professional interests, specifically in how to grow and improve the profession through academic leadership and private practice initiatives, are reflected in Dan Schwartz and Dan Konkle's remembrance of Dr. Bess as well as in the article by David Gnewikow, Danny Gnewikow, and David Cieliczka.

It is with profound sadness that we must note Judy Gravel's passing since the completion of this festschrift. How fitting that her final publication would be written to honor her lifetime friend and mentor, Fred H. Bess.