Editor's Corner: Elisha “Malcolm” Abel II— November 14, 1948–December 13, 2009

• DOI: http://doi.org/10.1111/j.1744-1714.2010.01092.x
• Published date: 01 June 2010
• Author: Daniel R. Cahoy
• Date: 01 June 2010

Editor’s Corner: Elisha ‘‘Malcolm’’ Abel IIF

November 14, 1948–December 13, 2009

Soon after hearing about the death of Gaylord Jentz, our Academy was

struck by the shocking news that our colleague and friend, Professor Elisha

‘‘Malcolm’’ Abel II, had also passed away. The loss of another member of

the American Business Law Journal (ABLJ) family was particularly heart-

rending for those of us on the board. We worked closely with Malcolm over

the years as a trusted reviewer and relied heavily on his judgment and

expertise. We know how much he meant to the Academy, and we invite

you to join us in reflecting on Malcolm’s career and accomplishments.

Malcolm served Western Carolina University as an associate profes-

sor of business law and was a permanent member of the faculty since 1999.

He was a beloved teacher and respected researcher. Malcolm taught sev-

eral business law classes at Western Carolina that formed an essential

foundation of the academic experiences of both undergraduate and grad-

uate students. He was a prolific author, and his publications covered an

extraordinarily wide range of subjects, including intellectual property

rights, such as patents and trademarks, and employment law protections

for Americans with disabilities.

As a reviewer for ABLJ, Malcolm never hesitated to provide his

perspective on another’s academic work in an honest, yet collegial manner.

He had high standards for scholarship, but he never forgot that the writing

process should be an opportunity for growth and improvement rather

than admonition. Malcolm’s input significantly improved the work of

others. Although his generous contributions will remain anonymous, his

dedication and munificence made ABLJ a better journal.

In addition to serving as a reviewer for ABLJ, Malcolm was a staff

editor for the Journal of Legal Studies in Business and a reviewer for the

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