of Conway, AR
January 28, 1933 - April 30, 2025
John Alan Ziegler, 92, of Conway, AR, passed away on April 30, 2025. He was born January 28, 1933, in Belleville, IL to John Wendell and Georgia Elizabeth Ziegler. John was preceded in death by his parents, his sister Peggy, and his second wife, Iris Butler Scales Ziegler.
Dr. Ziegler held the post of professor emeritus at Hendrix College in Conway, having taught there for 24 years from 1974 to 1998. Between 1991 and 1998 he was Harold and Lucy Cabe Distinguished Professor of History and Politics at Hendrix.
Previously he taught at California State University Hayward (1966-72) and at California State Polytechnic University Pomona (1972-74). He received his BA and MA from Southern Illinois University and his PhD from Syracuse University (1970). Prior to his teaching career, Ziegler served in the U.S. Army (1957-1960).
Professor Ziegler was probably most proud of the work he did fostering deeper relationships between citizens of the United States and the United Kingdom through lectures and participation in international conferences, as well as by promoting study abroad opportunities for the students at Hendrix College. His passion grew out of his own experience as a student at St. Andrew's University in Scotland where he was a fellow of The Rotary Foundation from 1956-57.
Dr. Ziegler was the author of several books: â€Å''Experimentalism and Institutional Change: An Approach to the Study and Improvement of Institutions†(1994), â€Å''In Search of the Special Relationship with Britain†(2000), and â€Å''Special Relationships: Six Stories†(2013).
John is survived by his children Nathaniel Ziegler of Wooster, AR, and Robin (Cliff Chen) Ziegler of Pittsburgh, PA, and by his granddaughter Lucy Chen of Pittsburgh. Other survivors include his sister Jackie Hebner of Branson, MO, and his niece and nephew, Gayle and Allyn (Pat) Hebner, as well as his first wife, Rev. Dr. Carol Ziegler.
A memorial service will be held at Greene Chapel at Hendrix College on July 19, 2025 starting at 10am.
It was Dr. Ziegler's wish that any memorial tributes be made in the form of charitable donations to the Dr. John A. Ziegler Scholarship Fund or the Georgia Ziegler Reppel Scholarship Fund, Hendrix College, Conway AR.
Sign Guestbook
12 Condolence(s)
Jan C Sarna--Hendrix 1976
Sunday, May 11, 2025
I remember having many wonderful, in-depth conversations with Dr. Ziegler during my last 2 years at Hendrix (History major). So many of those talks supplemented and expanded on the lectures he gave in those classes I took under him. Always gracious, always happy to discuss and add more to the many topics we covered.
Celine PAJOT
Friday, May 9, 2025
John Ziegler was my special friend and former teacher at Hendrix College.
We had a close relationship for years.
I owe John a lot: my strenght, my desire to learn and improve my English, my master degree on LBJ, my will never to give up, my curiosity. He taught me a lot and gave me the desire never to cut bonds with America. While I was living in France he kept telling me like Thoreau that he was "just across the pond"
Miss you already my dear friend.
Rest in peace
Laurent Bigot
Friday, May 9, 2025
May John rest in peace!
Our french family owes him a great deal for his friendship, kindness, generosity, and wisdom.
John will remain an unforgettable friend!
Walter Pryor
Friday, May 9, 2025
Dr. Ziegler was a beautiful soul and unfailingly kind to me. I will always cherish his high regard and the guidance and support he poured into me. I am saddened at his passing and grateful for his life.
Monica Palko
Thursday, May 8, 2025
It is difficult to overstate the positive influence Dr. Ziegler had on my career, indeed my life. He took an interest in my future at a time when I had no clear vision of it. He gently guided my post-Hendrix education and remained one of the first people I reached out to thank with career news. He was a true scholar and a gracious teacher and I’ll forever be grateful not only for his support while I studied at Hendrix but for his friendship thereafter. To borrow from Robert Frost, nothing gold can stay. Sleep well my friend.
Arthur Paul Bowen
Thursday, May 8, 2025
While I enjoyed Con Law with “Ziggy” I didn’t fully appreciate him until I actually attended law school and took 2 Con Law classes and Criminal Procedure. He knew his stuff and studying under him prepared me for the real thing which you can’t really say about a lot of undergrad Con Law classes. He was a gentle, quiet man who somehow mostly lectured without notes. RIP Dr. Ziegler. And thanks.
Jon & Diana Arms
Thursday, May 8, 2025
First and foremost, in my mind, is that John was an outstanding human being. He also excelled in the classroom, in his writing, and in his mentorship of many, many students. As area head, his humanity was front and center. His love of theatre was also a great feature, and conversations about it were challenging and informative. His love of music was also something about which we could exchange views and memories. I have missed his presence in everyday life since his retirement, and the world has lost a wonderful person. Rest in peace, old friend!
Anne Menotti
Thursday, May 8, 2025
Dr. Ziggler was the best! I took his Constitutional Law 1 and 2 classes, and learned so much about our legal system and key Supreme Court cases. He always made the classes challenging, but he also made them interesting, which was quite a feat as some of the cases were nuanced. As students, we used to call him Ziggy because he would Zig and Zag through the court cases like water running in a river, seamlessly covering a wide variety of topics with aplomb. Dr. Ziggler made each class so enjoyable and rich, and I credit him for expanding my horizons on Supreme Court cases. I truly enjoyed taking his classes, and will miss him. Please know how many student's lives he touched. I'm sure he will continue to teach in the afterlife!
Susan Robbins
Wednesday, May 7, 2025
Dr. Ziegler led our group to Birkbeck in London in the winter of 1985.He was gracious and caring and we got to do some really special tours because of his connections.
Ian King
Wednesday, May 7, 2025
John was a great friend, mentor and colleague of mine at Hendrix College, working alongside myself and Jay Barth to develop the new Politics major a few years before his retirement. With John being an American and myself an Englishman, we always had a part of that "special relationship" he spent so many years advocating for, promoting and so eloquently writing about. I am forever in his great debt. I will toast him this evening with a cup of Earl Grey, a beverage he served me many a time in his office, right around the traditional British "tea time," at around three or four p.m. (One doesn't have to be precise about such a matter; the ritual is what counts!!)
Jim Mark Ingram-Stokes
Wednesday, May 7, 2025
Dr. Ziegler was such a wonderful teacher!! He was our teacher and tour guide all over Great Britain while we studied in London at Birkbeck College. He was such a fount of knowledge and at the same time so patient with a bunch of college kids studying abroad. I will never forget the impact that he had on my life!!
Clifford Chen
Wednesday, May 7, 2025
Will miss John greatly. He had great charm and intellect. He always had a good story or observation. And was a staunch believer in the value and integrity of our educational and governmental institutions. Will miss talking baseball too!