Lloyd L. Sponholtz, 71, a Kansas University faculty member since 1967, died Tuesday following a battle with cancer.

The associate professor of history researched voting and temperance and won awards for his teaching excellence and for academic advising.

KU Chancellor Robert Hemenway offered condolences to Sponholtz’s family and friends.

“Lloyd’s commitment to KU was unequivocal, and it began with his students,” Hemenway said in a news release. “His dedication to uncompromising excellence energized his classes to meet the challenges he presented.”