Tech Topics - Fall 2007 - (Page 37)

Burdell&Friends Deaths 1930s Roswell I. “Ros” Butler, Cls 38, of Marietta, Ga., on June 9. Two weeks shy of graduation, he joined the Army. He served in the Philippines during World War II and was honorably discharged as a captain. He and his brother first owned Butler Construction Co., focusing on residential construction, and later took over their father’s commercial and industrial construction company, Capital Construction, which they ran for more than 40 years. Mr. Butler also was instrumental in the development of Camp Westminster for young adults. Willis W. Castleberry, EE 34, of Marietta, Ga., on July 3. Mr. Castleberry had a 45-year career with Graybar Electric Co., serving many years as the Southeast region operations manager. For half a century, he was active in the Atlanta Civitan, Capital City and Atlanta Yacht clubs. Robert K. Howell, TE 39, of Lanett, Ala., on June 15. He served in the Navy during World War II. He retired from Ferry Morse Seed Co., where he worked in sales. Robert L. Seay III, CE 39, of Dundalk, Md., on May 11. He joined the Army in 1941 and served as a first lieutenant in North Africa, Italy and Germany with the 85th Ordnance Battalion. He was awarded a Bronze Star and American Defense Ribbon and was discharged in 1946 as a captain. He joined Bethlehem Steel after the war and retired in 1981 as general foreman of mechanical maintenance at the Sparrows Point division. A baritone, he sang in several barbershop quartets that won international competitions and performed on USO tours during the Vietnam War. Mr. Seay also performed with his son, grandson and great-grandson in the Four Seay-Sons. Pat M. Stevens III, Cls 33, of Novato, Calif., on June 21. A veteran of World War II and the Vietnam War, Col. Stevens served more than 32 years in the Army, heading the U.S. Army Standardization Office in London, commanding the Nike Missile Anti-aircraft Group in Philadelphia and the Army Support Group in Vietnam in 1962. He rose to lieutenant colonel in World War II and was awarded the Bronze Star, French Croix de Guerre three times and Purple Heart. After the war, he headed the artillery tactics department at Fort Bliss, and in 1948, was assigned to the Pentagon, where he worked on the development of the first generation of Army missiles. An Eagle Scout, he earned the second Eagle badge awarded in Georgia. At Tech, he was a member of Beta Theta Pi. Technology Pioneer John E. Pippin Dies D r. John E. Pippin, EE 51, MS EE 53, a technology pioneer in Georgia and founder, chairman, president and CEO of EMS Technologies, died July 13. He was 79. After completing degrees at Tech, Dr. Pippin earned a doctorate in applied physics from Harvard in 1958. He joined Sperry Microwave Electronics Co. as head of the research department and was an adjunct professor at the University of Florida from 1962 to 1964. He returned to Atlanta in 1964 as vice president and director of research at Scientific Atlanta. In 1968, Dr. Pippin acquired the microwave solid-state product line of the research division of Scientific Atlanta and started EMS along with eight employees. He was the company’s CEO for 25 years. Established as a defense contractor, EMS diversified into commercial applications in the early 1970s. In an interview with The New York Times in 1992, Dr. Pippin said, “We recognized even in the Tech alumnus John E. Pippin founded EMS Technologies in 1968. 1940s Daniel Atkins, BS Arch 49, Arch 50, of Atlanta, on June 12. He served as a pilot in the Army Air Corps during World War II and in the Air Force during the Korean War. Charles I. Babcock Jr., EE 49, of Vero Beach, Fla., on July 10. He was president and later chairman of The Babcock Company, a Miamibased home-building and real estate development firm he founded. He was a past president of the Builders Association of South Florida and past chair of the board of governors of the Greater Miami Chamber of Commerce. From 1983 to 1988, he chaired Business Assistance Center Inc., devoted to the economic revitalization of Liberty City. In 1987, the Miami Herald presented him a Spirit of Excellence award. He served in the Navy. At Tech, he was a member of Alpha Tau Omega. Survivors include sons C.I. Babcock III, CE 74, MS CE 75, and Calvin H. Babcock, IE 79. Carroll R. Bigham, AE 46, of Sandy Springs, Ga., on April 24. He worked for Lockheed Georgia as a structures engineer for 32 years, retiring in 1986. He was a ruling elder at Mount Vernon Presbyterian Church, where he was a Sunday school teacher, historian heyday of the defense buildup that if we were going to be a long-term viable company, we needed access to other markets.” At the organization’s 30th anniversary, he said, “We were an entrepreneurial company from day one. The main reason we were successful was our people.” He retired as chairman in 1998. In 1997, Dr. Pippin made a $1.5 million donation to found a chair in electromagnetics in the School of Electrical and Computer Engineering and in 1998, he established a second chair, the John Pippin Chair in Wireless Systems. He was an inaugural inductee into the Georgia Technology Hall of Fame in 1993 and in the Georgia Tech Engineering Hall of Fame in 1994. He was a fellow of the National Science Foundation and Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers. He was a member of Mount Carmel United Methodist Church in Norcross, Ga. Survivors include a son, John F. Pippin, Mgt 78. and choir member for more than 40 years. He received his naval commission through the V-12 program at Tech. Walter G. Brown Jr., Cls 47, of Charlotte, N.C., on May 28. Mr. Brown retired from McCormick & Company Inc. as a sales manager after 23 years with the company. A veteran of World War II and the Korean War, he was a member of Chi Phi fraternity and past president of the Charlotte Georgia Tech Club. Frank C. Cheney Jr., ME 42, of Augusta, Ga., on March 24. He retired in 1983 from University Hospital in Augusta as assistant administrator for plan services. Mr. Cheney worked for about 20 years in various management roles at Merry Brothers Brick and Tile Co. in Augusta. During World War II, he served in the Navy as an officer on two submarines and was involved in six successful war patrols. He later served in the Korean War and completed 20 years of service through the Naval Reserve. At Tech, he was a member of Pi Tau Sigma, Chi Phi and the Navy ROTC. Ewell L. Credille Jr., IM 47, of Wheaton, Ill., on Dec. 28. Mr. Credille was a retired controller with Sears, Roebuck and Co. Lindley Eric Flanagan Jr., AE 43, of Fort Worth, Texas, on Oct. 14. In 1986, Mr. Flanagan retired from The LTV Corp., for which he had served as director of corporate plans and public affairs. He also was executive director of the LTV Foundation. He received a master’s degree in aeronautical engineering from Texas A&M University, where he served on the engineering faculty. He served in the Pacific during World War II as an engineering officer with the Navy. An Eagle Scout, he was active at the national level with Explorer scouting and served on the board of Junior Achievement in Fort Worth. A nationally recognized hybridizer of irises, he was cofounder of the Fort Worth Iris Society, a judge for the American Iris Society and a director of Aril Society International. A fisherman, he held several patents for fishing lures. Robert Jacques Hesslein, ME 45, of Fayetteville, N.Y., on April 30. He was a retired principal with Hesslein Consulting. Charles A. Hobbs Jr., EE 40, of Marlton, N.J., on Nov. 2. Mr. Hobbs retired as a principal member of RCA’s engineering staff. Hugh A. Holborn, Cls 47, of Jacksonville, Fla., on May 9. In 1964, Mr. Holborn founded his own construction firm, Indian River Industrial Contractors, in Jacksonville. The firm was involved in TECHTOPICS | FALL 2007 37

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Contents Mail Call Alumni House Historic Renovation 007 Buzz Bash Dazzling Daylilies Living History Cover Story: Key to the City The Hill Tapping Technology Robotics Rivalry No Easy Ride Giving Back Balancing Act Student Life Burdell & Friends Epic Story of Heroism Yellow Jackets Very Good Team Passport to Retirement Real World

Tech Topics - Fall 2007

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