A beloved fixture in Ole Miss’ faculty, long-time history professor David Sansing, died Saturday, his family and friends reported.

Sansing taught history, authored several books and textbooks and was the historian of the university.

He was born in 1933 in Greenwood, Mississippi, graduated from E.E. Bass High School in 1951, and ultimately receiving bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Mississippi College.

Sansing earned his doctorate from the University of Southern Mississippi in 1969 and was offered a teaching position at Ole Miss in 1970.