After earning B.A. and M.A. degrees from Ohio State University, Raymond W. Pence (1885-1977) went on to teach at Oregon State, Washington State, and Denison universities. Pence came to DePauw in 1916 as the James Whitcomb Riley Professor of English Literature, teaching for 36 years a variety of writing courses, including fiction, composition, grammar, and drama. The author of a dozen books on writing, Pence believed in revision, revision, revision. The professor told scholars accuracy of expression came only through practice, and the self-discipline of good writing led to a successful life. In 1967, Pence's former students named an Asbury Hall seminar room in honor of their beloved professor.