Tech Topics - Fall 2008 - (Page 44) BURDELL & FRIENDS a member of the National Guard. A licensed pilot, he was a former member of the Savannah Jaycees and past president of the Savannah Pharmacy Association. Logan B. Dixon Jr., Arch 50, of Savannah, Ga., on July 21. He retired from the Corps of Engineers after serving more than 25 years as chief of its architectural section. Upon graduating from high school, Mr. Dixon enlisted in the Army and was stationed in Europe during World War II. He continued his military career in the Army Reserve for 30 years, retiring as major and commander of the Green Beret Airborne Unit in Savannah. Mr. Dixon was recognized as the leading blood donor in the Southeast, giving more than 21 gallons of blood until his health prevented him from giving any more. Robert Stevenson Echerd, EE 55, of Billings, Mont., on July 16. Mr. Echerd was a retired electrical engineer with the Diamond Power Specialties Co. of Lancaster, Ohio. He served as an Army aviator in the Signal Corps, rising to the rank of captain, and was a member of Pershing Rifles. George Forrester, MS IE 53, of Ottawa, on July 10. John Forshtay, IM 51, of Minnetonka, Minn., on July 11. A veteran of the Army Air Corps, he worked in the bottling industry. Robert Jones Freeman, IM 51, of Hilton Head Island, S.C., on May 16. Mr. Freeman retired from Delta Air Lines, for which he served as a pilot from 1956 to 1980. He was a member of Phi Delta Theta at Tech. Gerald Geller, IE 51, of Huntsville, Ala., on April 8. He retired as an aerospace engineer with NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center. Charles A. Gravitt Sr., Cls 59, of Fayetteville, Ga., on June 3, his 71st birthday. He served as a municipal court judge in Lake City, Ga., for the past 13 years. He left Tech to enlist in the Air Force and served as a radio technician in the Strategic Air Command during the Cold War. In 1961, he began a 35-year career with Delta Air Lines, starting out as a radio technician and ultimately becoming director of internal auditing. He received a law degree from the John Marshall School of Law and an MBA from Georgia State University. In the early 1970s, while on loan from Delta Air Lines, he was detailed to then Gov. Jimmy Carter to work on a special economic development program. Mr. Gravitt later worked for Delta Technology before practicing law in Jonesboro, Ga. 44 In Memoriam Raleigh Travers “Trav” Green III, Text 50, of Fort Worth, Texas, on May 24. He began a career in the textile business designing wall coverings, fabric and custom floral designs, many of which were used around the world, including in the White House. He moved his textile company, Gian, from New York to Fort Worth in 1965. He retired in 1979 and began painting in watercolors. Many of his paintings were shown throughout Texas. At Georgia Tech, he was a member of the track team and Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity. Survivors include his brother-in-law, Walton T. Carter Jr., IM 51. Harry Lamar Hall, Chem 50, of Roswell, Ga., on May 10. He retired from the CocaCola Company as principal investigator in 1990. In his 32-year career with the company, he worked in the trade goods analysis and research and development departments before leading the formulation section. Shortly after high school graduation, he served in the Pacific theater as an aerial engineer in the 20th Air Force. He first was employed with the Georgia Tech Engineering Experiment Station, analyzing ores of beryllium in connection with the investigation into the use of nuclear energy for the propulsion of aircraft. Mr. Hall was president of the International Society of Beverage Technologists in 1985. Robert Henry Hall, Arch 51, of Leesburg, Ga., on May 17. He served in England with the Air Force during World War II. Melvin Christian Halstead Sr., ChE 50, of Roswell, Ga., on May 20. Mr. Halstead worked for General Motors for 32 years, retiring as director of paint standards. He enlisted in the Army Air Corps during World War II and was awarded the Purple Heart and Air Medal and attended Georgia Tech on the GI Bill. He returned to active duty in the Air Force during the Korean War. Robert “Frank” Hicks, EE 59, of Columbus, Neb., on Feb. 4. Mr. Hicks developed and operated Roger ’s Wholesale Electric, an electrical distribution company based in Columbus, which grew to include four branches across the state. Roy Earl Housworth Jr., CE 59, of Decatur, Ga., on May 9. A member of the American Society of Civil Engineers, Mr. Housworth was a self-employed land surveyor for 46 years. Despite having had surgery for his heart in 1993 and for cancer in 2002, he continued to work until his death. He served in the Army and was stationed at Fort Knox, Ky., from 1951 to ’53. At Tech, he was a member of the Chi Epsilon honor society. Survivors include his sons, Barry, Cls 79, and Mark, IM 85. Nathaniel C. “Nat” Hughs Jr., IE 54, of Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla., on June 25. Mr. Hughs retired as director of corporate development with Florida Rock Industries after 40 years with the company. At Georgia Tech, he served as president of the Sigma Nu fraternity chapter. John David Jackson, Text 51, of Tampa, Fla., on July 7. A member of Pi Kappa Alpha at Tech, he joined the Army following graduation. He left active duty in 1954 and continued to serve in the Reserve, ultimately retiring with the rank of major. He then joined Electronic Radio and TV, which he later purchased and ran until his retirement. Frank F. Lane, AE 55, of Laurel, Md., on April 12. Dean Lennard, ME 53, of Montgomery, Ohio, on May 3. He worked for 38 years with General Electric Aircraft Engines in Evendale, Ohio, serving as general manager of the CF6 engine program for the past eight years. He was inducted into the General Electric Aircraft Engine Propulsion Hall of Fame in 1997 and into the Georgia Tech College of Engineering Hall of Fame in 2003. He served in the Army as a missile battery commander. Mr. Lennard was a member of the Montgomery City Charter Committee, leading to its incorporation as a city; the local Georgia Tech Club; the GE Elfun Society; and the board of trustees of Twin Towers and Twin Lakes Retirement Communities. Robert Clark Livingston, IE 55, of Winter Haven, Fla., on May 16. Mr. Livingston spent his professional career in Connecticut, working as a mechanical engineer for Pratt & Whitney Aircraft and later with Quinlan & Giannoni Inc. Consulting Engineers. Mr. Livingston became a partner with the firm in 1984 and retired from Quinlan, Giannoni & Livingston in 1996. He was a member of the Connecticut chapter of the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-conditioning Engineers, for which he served as president from 1977 to ’78. Homer M. Lloyd Jr., ME 50, of Birmingham, Ala., on May 2, when he was struck by a car. A Marine Corps veteran of World War II, he had a 40-year career with Rust Engineering. Following retirement, he served two terms as chairman of the Baptist Health System’s board of trustees. He also served on the board of trustees of Trinity Medical Center. In 2005, Mr. Lloyd received the Birmingham Georgia Tech Club’s Outstanding Alumnus Award. Memorials in his name may be made to the Georgia Tech Foundation for the Lloyd Family Presidential Scholarship fund. TechTopics | Fall 2008
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