Dr. James "Mick" Miklovich, 78, Associate Professor Emeritus in the Department of History at the University of West Florida, passed away on August 17, 2020. Dr. Miklovich was at his home in Pensacola with his wife and caregiver, Libby, at his side.

His students knew him for his jovial disposition and his appropriate Santa Claus beard. His friends hoped to find their place in "The Book." Mick's lifelong record of everyone he ever played Hearts with, win, or lose, was in The Book and he kept it close at hand.

He was raised in Milwaukee, Wisconsin from the age of three thus developing a lifelong passion for his beloved Green Bay Packers. He graduated from Don Boscoe High School in Milwaukee and he was quick to share a million quips about his days there, from extra Saturday math classes to being "grounded for a century.''

He began his long love with higher education at Wisconsin State College at Whitewater and graduated with a double major in history and social studies. He earned a Master of Arts degree in U.S. and European History from the University of Iowa. Dr. Miklovich did additional graduate work at the University of Colorado, the University of Utah, and the University of London. He was awarded a PhD in British history from the University of Cambridge, with his dissertation "The Legislative Procedure of Henry the VIII.''

His first teaching job was with high school students. He taught Social Studies and English and was the Department Chairman at Richmond High School in Richmond, Michigan. After that first year he added to his teaching experience as an instructor of U.S. and Latin American History at Grambling State College in Louisiana, Latin American History at the University of Utah in Salt Lake City and as a visiting lecturer in U.S. and English History at California State University Long Beach.

He began a decades-long professional career in Pensacola when he joined the University of West Florida as an instructor in 1971. Hundreds of students studied under him as the Associate Professor of British and Modern European History until his retirement in 2007. Even then, he returned to the classroom as Emeritus Professor of History and continued teaching through the fall of 2019. He was especially proud of establishing the Overseas and Field Studies Programs in 1980 as well as serving for twelve years as the Director of International Programs and Special Assistant to the President of UWF. He was History Department Chair from 1995-2004. Dr. Miklovich served a total of ten years on UWF's Senate, also servingas its president at one point.

His 40-year career included publishing over 25 articles, reviews, and other publications in professional journals. During Dr. Miklovich's many years at UWF he worked tirelessly to enhance the students' knowledge and instill a love of history to all who met him. He began both the UWF History Department Library and an International Program Reference and Language Library securing approximately 2,000 volumes. Over the years he continuously worked to acquire all types of media for the University.

Of all the awards and accolades Dr. Miklovich received, he was proudest of serving as a consultant to the History of Parliament Trust commissioned by the British House of Commons. He was invited to Parliament upon the project's completion. He also represented the State of Florida at an annual U.S.-Holland Trade Commission Dinner hosted by the Mayor of Houston and the Dutch Ambassador. In 1972 he had already made his mark on the university by winning the first UWF Distinguished Teaching Award. A few of his many other awards included The UWF Marian Viccars Award for Outstanding Job Performance, Florida Legislature Outstanding Performance and Achievement Award and the Teaching Incentive Program Award by the College of Arts and Social Sciences for teaching productivity and performance.

His love of history encompassed the love of geography. Mick loved to travel and to tell about his travels. He went to more than 100 countries covering the full alphabet from Argentina to Zambia with much of the travel being part of his job as UWF's Chief Foreign Affairs Officer. His love of steam trains took him on many excursions with Libby and his grandson at his side.

Mick's true-to-life tales list, that he once put in writing, include being caught in a white out while driving above the Arctic Circle, falling into a glacial crevasse in Greenland, surviving several California and Colorado earthquakes, making it through poison gas tests in Utah, riding out five category-4 and 5 hurricanes in Florida, a near drowning in the Red Sea, getting stoned with bricks during a riot in Kinshasa, Zaire and, of course, the occasional rides on his Harley.

Often, he combined his love of travel, geography, and life-long learning into professional experiences to bring home more knowledge – and tales – to his students. He was an emissary to Mohamad C University and Moroccan Department of Education in Rabat, Morocco, served as the Visiting Assistant Professor of English and European History at Florida State University's London Center, a Visiting Associate Professor of European History University of Iceland- Reykjavik, an Exchange Professor in Contemporary European History Ryerson Polytechnical Institute, Toronto, Canada, a Visiting Marine Archaeological Staff Supervisor at the University of Haifa's Caesarea Ancient Harbor Excavation Project, Caesarea Maritima, Israel, a Visiting Professor and Research Professor of History University of Colorado, Boulder, and as the Visiting Professor in Early Modern European and Italian History at Florida State University's Florence Study Center in Italy.

He was immensely proud of his adopted hometown. His enthusiasm for Pensacola was most evident when he initiated and helped develop UWF's ties with public history agencies including the Naval Air Station, the National Museum of Naval Aviation, Historic Pensacola, and the Pensacola Civil War Museum. This effort led to the coordination of research and internship projects for history majors in the field of public history.

Of all the history he studied, his favorite era by-far was the 1950s. He was swept off his feet by the crooners and knew all the words to the songs of the early days of rock 'n' roll. He was never happier than in the "soda shop/ diner room" at his home where he would play his music and try his hand at his many musical instruments.

He had his own little piece of Heaven on Earth – a Friday night playing Hearts with friends and putting their names in "The Book," a Saturday night dancing with Libby to his favorite music of Dion and the Belmonts , a Sunday spent being a Cheesehead as his Green Bay Packers won and the rest of the week with his UWF students.

Dr. Miklovich is survived by his wife, Libby, Pensacola, stepsons Bryce and Drew (Amber), stepdaughter Lisa, and 3 grandchildren, Dylan, Avalena, and Andie. A special thank you to Dr. Jack Keller, Pensacola, who was Mick's close friend and colleague since 1971, whose friendship and companionship and ability to always be there when needed, meant so much to Mick. To comply with COVID restrictions a small, family-only service will take place in Pensacola. A celebration of Life and Memorial Service will be held for friends and colleagues at a future date, to be determined.

For those who wish to honor his memory, the family has asked that you please consider making a gift to support scholarships in the Department of History, c/o UWF Foundation, 11000 University Pkwy, Pensacola, FL 32514. Please reference Dr. Miklovich 's name on your donation