-- a brilliant teacher, noted scholar, and an authentic adventurer. In a phrase, he was the prototypic "Indiana Jones."

Bill McGovern taught political science at Northwestern from 1929 until his death in 1964. He also held these appointments:

• Forlong Lecturer, Royal Asiatic Society, 1920
• Lecturer on History and Religion, University of Wales, 1920-21
• Board Member, Oriental Studies, University of London, 1922-27
• Assistant Curator, Anthropology Department, Chicago Field Museum, 1927-28
• Far east war correspondent, Chicago Times, 1937-38
• Lecturer, Department of Government, Harvard University, 1940-41
• U.S. Naval Reserve, active duty, 1941-45, served in strategic services for the Joint Chiefs of Staff, earned rank of Commander in 1945

McGovern spoke several western and eastern languages and even wrote a book on colloquial Japanese. In a steamship era, he traveled to Tibet, China, Japan, Peru, and the Amazon River--in addition to the usual European countries.

Along with many articles and essays, McGovern published eleven books. The most scholarly was From Luther to Hitler (1941), but his most notable were two real-life adventure books.

To Lhasa in Disguise (1924) told the story of his secret entry into the forbidden city of Tibet, disguised as a coolie. Jungle Paths and Inca Ruins (1927) described his explorations up the Amazon.

McGovern taught comparative politics and political theory. He often lectured in Harris Hall 107 to an overflow crowd of 300 students fascinated by his insights and anecdotes.

His politics were actively conservative, accounting for the portrait hung on the second floor of Scott Hall, which was commissioned by the Northwestern Young Republican Club. His devoted students also funded the McGovern Award, given annually to an outstanding undergraduate in political science.