Former professor honored by MSU

Michigan State University's School of Criminal Justice honored the late Clifford Van Meter, Grand Valley professor emeritus of criminal justice, as a distinguished alumni in October during the school's Wall of Fame ceremony.

Van Meter joined Grand Valley's faculty in 1992 after a distinguished teaching career at the University of Illinois. He held many roles in criminal justice, including serving as executive director of the U.S. Department of Justice's Private Security Task Force for President's Nixon's administration.

Van Meter was forced to retire due to a terminal respiratory illness in 1991, but he returned to Grand Valley to guest lecture. Jonathan White, professor of interdisciplinary studies and executive director of the Homeland Defense Initiative, said Van Meter helped put Grand Valley's School of Criminal Justice "on the map." White, a former director and professor of criminal justice, is also on the MSU School of Criminal Justice Wall of Fame.

"Of the 41 people they have honored, two are from Grand Valley," White said. "It thrills me to be  up there with Cliff."

Van Meter died in 2003, shortly after giving a lecture at Grand Valley on President Kennedy's assassination.
Photo courtesy of Michigan State University

From left, Marcia White, Jonathan White, Candy Curtis and Judy Van Meter celebrate Cliff Van Meter's posthumous induction into the MSU School of Criminal Justice Wall of Fame.