University of Oklahoma Classics Professor Rufus Fears already won several teaching awards.

As he will tell classes, history tends to repeat itself. Fears, the OU G.T. and Libby Blankenship Chair in the History of Liberty, will be recognized later this month as the 2006 Medal of Excellence Award Winner for college and university teaching in Oklahoma.

Fears said this award, while one of many he has received in his career, is different for him.

"I'm very honored," Fears said. "Coming from the whole state, it makes it very special."

Writing four books and winning 25 teaching excellence awards, including three "Professor of the Year" awards and one "Most Inspiring Professor" award from OU, some may think teaching would become routine for Fears, who has also taught at Indiana University and Boston University before coming to OU in 1990. However, he said every class, from retired students to college students, is a new learning experience for him and his students.

"Every class will ask a question that will make me think in a new light," Fears said. "I equally enjoy teaching college students and retired people. We have really great students here. Ours are the most fun to teach, the most open to ideas."

Fears said what sticks out most in his mind from his career is taking faculty and students to historical sites across the world, from Gettysburg to Roman provinces. He said this involves reenacting the scenes of history.

"It's unique, because you study history where it was made," Fears said. "You walk in the places that Caesar walked. You see where those brave men at Gettysburg fought for freedom on both sides. If you love history, you will want to travel."

But that does not mean his classes are not engaging. It is common for classes to laugh at points in his lectures and applaud following the final class of the semester. Both happened at the final class Thursday in one of his classes, "Freedom in Rome."

One of his current students, sociology and psychology senior Joseph Lupp, said he did not take Fears' classes for graduation, but for enjoyment.

"I love Dr. Fears," Lupp said. "I love his enthusiasm and his incredible knowledge of the subject."

"(The class) is really interesting," said Meg Sadler, political science junior. "He really gets into the story and makes it come alive for the students."

One of the ways he brings his lectures to life is through pointing stick, which doubles as a prop during classes.

"It's just about the same length of a Greek or a Roman spear," Fears explains. "It's a walking stick from a Boy Scout campout."

While Fears grew up and attending college in Atlanta before earning his Ph.D. from Harvard, he said he loves the openness of Oklahoma and plans to teach here the rest of his life.

"What makes successful teaching is love of the subject," Fears said. "I want to teach until I die. I think I was called to teach."