Tech Topics - Spring 2009 - (Page 37) BURDELL & FRIENDS cello, Ark., and a board member of Commercial Bank of Monticello. Donald Arthur Kelly, MS EE 54, of Merritt Island, Fla., on Oct.18. A retired NASA engineer, he worked on the Apollo, Skylab and shuttle missions. He was recruited by NASA in the early years of the space program at Cape Canaveral, Fla., following a 10-year stint with Florida Power and Light Co. He served in Korea and Japan during the Korean War. He opened his own motorcycle business while still an engineer at the Kennedy Space Center. Mr. Kelly, who played the clarinet, saxophone and flute and was a member of many bands over the years, taught all three of his children to play instruments. Robert M. Kimzey Jr., ME 51, of St. Petersburg, Fla., on Oct. 2. Mr. Kimzey, who received an MBA from Harvard University, worked in business finance, most recently for Geonex in Cairo, Egypt. During the Korean War, he served in the Air Force. He completed the master naturalist program at the University of Florida and volunteered with Brooker Creek Preserve and Weedon Island Preserve. Ernest Fulton Lasseter Jr., ChE 51, of Savannah, Ga., on Nov. 10. After serving in the military, Mr. Lasseter worked for Standard Oil in Baton Rouge, La., and later moved to Venezuela, where he implemented his idea of storing crude oil in dry lake beds and underground caverns. An Army veteran of World War II, he was commissioned into the Air Force and was a pioneer in refining jet fuel during the Korean War. He was the officer in charge of the unit responsible for the development of rocket motors used in intercontinental ballistic missiles. Enrique J. “Henry” Lopez-Ona, IE 50, of Miami Springs, Fla., on Nov. 26. He was the former vice president of International Purchasing & Export Inc. Mr. Lopez-Ona was fond of watching baseball games and playing dominoes. Gutherie “Buddy” Meade, IM 51, a resident of Brooklet, Ga., on Jan. 10. A Navy veteran of World War II, he worked for many years as an engineer. Mr. Meade enjoyed hunting and fishing. Eduardo Montalvo, Cls 52, a resident of Sandy Springs, Ga., on Jan. 13. In more than four decades with Lockheed, Mr. Montalvo worked on the flight line as a senior liaison engineer, overseeing mechanics’ repairs. A native of Puerto Rico, he moved to the United States at 18 and became a certified master aviation mechanic in California before attending Georgia Tech. While ballroom dancing with his wife, Mr. Montalvo often would be called on stage to sing “Besame Mucho.” Elmer H. Payne, Cls 53, of Kettering, Ohio, on Dec. 16. An Army veteran, he was a retired professor emeritus of civil engineering at the University of Dayton with 33 years of service. Mr. Payne was a member of the American Legion and was active in Kettering Sister Cities, for which he started a newsletter. Richard Carl “Took” Plumlee, IM 54, of Macon, Ga., on Nov. 15. Mr. Plumlee spent four decades in the real estate business. In 1971, he started Plumlee Realty and helped negotiate the sale of several downtown Atlanta properties that later became Woodruff Park. Mr. Plumlee was one of the first recipients of the Phoenix Award and was a three-time recipient of the Alvin B. Cates Award presented by the Atlanta Commercial Board of Realtors. An Eagle Scout, he was a member of Lamda Chi Alpha fraternity at Georgia Tech. Mr. Plumlee served as a trustee of the Georgia Tech Alumni Association from 1978 to 1982 and was a member of the Lamda Chi Alpha Alumni Association, Atlanta Board of Realtors and Buckhead Lions Club. Paul S. Quigg, CE 53, of Barrington, Ill., on Nov. 7. Mr. Quigg retired as a structural and fire testing manager after 32 years with the United States Gypsum Co. A frequent lecturer, he authored five patents and published numerous articles in scientific journals. He was best known for his work with compartmentalizing building fires and the design of curtain walls to improve containment. In 1978, Mr. Quigg was appointed to the National Fire Academy board of visitors. He also received a special commendation from the NFA and a merit award from the American Society of Testing and Materials. During the Korean War, he was a lieutenant in the Navy assigned to the Fleet Activities Command in Pusan Harbor and was a commanding officer aboard the USS Elder. He also wrote The Freehold Boy about his experiences growing up in a small historical town. Survivors include his daughter Mary Ellen Quigg, IE 84. William Ray Sarratt, Arch 55, of Lilburn, Ga., on Nov. 23. A general contractor, he was the retired owner of W. Ray Sarratt Inc. A deacon at the First Baptist Church of Lilburn, he taught the men’s Bible class and was instrumental in rebuilding the church sanctuary, fellowship hall and activities building. Mr. Sarratt also participated in worldwide mission trips, during which he helped build churches in Ecuador, Uruguay and Moldova. A mission coordinator for the Gwinnett Metro Baptist Association, he served several terms as a trustee on the North American Mission Board and was a member of the board of regents of Luther Rice Seminary, which named him an honorary doctor of human letters. A football player at Tech, he served in the Marine Corps with the VMF 351 Marine Fighter Squadron in Korea. Glenn Wilson Smith, EE 56, of Atlanta, on Nov. 15. Mr. Smith spent 21 years with General Electric before joining Oglethorpe Power, for which he led engineering teams for the next 19 years. An Army veteran, he was stationed in Germany during the Korean War. Harmon Gay Smith, EE 52, of Knoxville, Tenn., on Nov. 9. A Navy veteran, he had a 38-year career working with the Union Carbide Corp. in Oak Ridge, Tenn. John G. “Jack” Thweatt, Chem 53, PhD Chem 61, of Kingsport, Tenn., on Jan. 4. Dr. Thweatt retired from Tennessee Eastman Kodak after a 32-year career with the company. At Tech, he was a member of the Navy ROTC and Phi Eta Sigma honor society. Following graduation, he served in the Navy aboard the USS Iowa and later retired from the Navy Reserve as a commander in 1993. He was an emeritus member of the American Chemical Society. He served on the constitution and bylaws committee for the Tennessee Baptist Convention and on the boards of the Kingsport and Johnson City symphony orchestras, Kingsport Symphony Chorus and Kingsport Civitans. He also was a club director and life master for the American Contract Bridge League. Jack Vanderbleek, IM 50, MS IM 55, of St. Petersburg, Fla., on Jan. 14. In 30 years with the military, he served as a machine gun platoon leader during the Korean War and chief of staff of a logistical command during the Vietnam War. He received the Legion of Merit with two oak leaf clusters and the Bronze Star for valor with one oak leaf cluster. He was a member of the Civitan Club for 23 years, serving as the club president and district governor. In 2001, Mr. Vanderbleek was presented with the Civitan Club’s Four Chaplains Award. In 2003, he was inducted into St. Petersburg’s Senior Hall of Fame for community service. At Tech, he was president of Delta Tau Delta fraternity and a member of ROTC and Scabbard and Blade. Russell Raymond Voorhees, ME 51, of Isle of Palms, S.C., on Nov. 28. He retired from West Virginia Pulp and Paper Co. Graham S. Wallace, EE 55, of Los Altos, Calif., on June 17. Mr. Wallace retired as a product assurance manager with Space Systems/Loral. In Memoriam TechTopics | Spring 2009 37
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