Rex Honey

Rex Dean Honey, Professor of Geography at The University of Iowa, died suddenly at his home on October 23, 2010. He was 65. Honey was born in San Diego and received his B.A. with honors from the University of California, Riverside (1967) and his PhD from the University of Minnesota (1972). He joined The University of Iowa as an Assistant Professor in 1974 and at different times served as Director of Global Studies, Associate Director of the Center for Human Rights, and Director of African Studies. His professional specialties were in political geography, specifically in the political organization of space and global aspects of human rights. Honey was Chair of the West Lakes Division of the AAG in1982-1983 and again in 2005-2007; Co-Chair of the Ethics, Values and Human Rights Specialty Group of the AAG (2001- 2003); and Secretary of the Commission on Geography and Public Policy of the IGU (2000-2004). Honey’s early papers reflected his studies of the spatial organization of public services in England, the U.S., New Zealand and Jordan. Later work focused on Nigeria and the developmental effects of home town associations there. His more recent writing addressed global development themes and issues of human rights. He supervised the PhD dissertations of nine students and was adviser to thirty-six M.A. students at The University of Iowa. Throughout his professional career, Honey pursued his interest in geography education, taking teachers from Geographic Alliance programs to Nigeria, India and Bangladesh. He traveled extensively, giving many lectures in geography departments throughout the world. Prevented by his untimely death was his plan next semester to visit India and teach a course on human rights.

Rex Honey (Necrology). 2011. AAG Newsletter 46(1): 46.