In Memoriam
1950s
James Chirbas (’54, ’85, ’90) of Savannah died Feb. 5, 2024, at age 99. The WWII veteran of the U.S. Coast Guard retired from Hunter Army Airfield after 30 years of civil service. He was a long-standing member and former president of the Savannah Art Association.
Betty Harden Knight (’56, ’88) of Statesboro, Georgia, died Feb. 20, 2024. She was a dedicated Bulloch County educator for more than four decades.
Betty Brannen Pickens (’52) of Statesboro, Georgia, died Nov. 14, 2024. She was an elementary school teacher in Palm Beach County, Florida.
Juanita Dowdy Denmark Newton (’54) of Brooklet, Georgia, died Jan. 9, 2025. She was a teacher and helped build her family-owned furniture store.
Julia Hendrix Anderson (’59, ’67) of Statesboro, Georgia, passed away Jan. 15, 2025. She was a teacher and an active member of the Statesboro community.
Thomas “Pop Pop” Wommack (’59, ’68) of Madison, Georgia, died Jan. 29, 2025. He had a long career in education as a teacher, coach and school superintendent. He retired after 21 years as director of legal and legislative affairs for the Professional Association of Georgia Educators.
George “Smiley” Gale (’57) of Cairo, Georgia, passed away at home March 18, 2025. He served in the U.S. Army and was an administrator and principal in Georgia’s McIntosh County school system.
Leona Newman Knight (’56) of Stilson, Georgia, died April 24, 2025, in a hospital. She was a retired teacher, a farm wife, mother, grandmother and loving friend to many. She was a teacher at Stilson Elementary School.
Granville “Buddy” Rainey Jr. (’58,’69) of Albany, Georgia, passed away May 20, 2025. The U.S. Army veteran had a career in education first as a teacher, then a guidance counselor, elementary school principal and finally as an administrative assistant in the Dougherty County school system. He retired after 34 years of service.
1960s
Janice King Allen (’61) of Tifton, Georgia, passed away March 30, 2024. She was a retired educator.
Larry Ledford (’68) formerly of Hiawassee, Georgia, passed away June 5, 2024, at a rehabilitation and nursing home in Fernandina Beach, Florida. The WWII veteran served in the Philippines and Korea and retired from the U.S. Army Signal School as deputy director of training, GS-14. His career history also included stints as a public school teacher, communications electronics instructor and staff education specialist.
Frances Diane Lott (’68) of Brunswick, Georgia, died in hospice care Sept. 30, 2024. She was an educator in Georgia’s Clayton County school system.
William Moody Denton Jr. (83) of Ware County, Georgia, passed away Nov. 1, 2024. He was a farmer for several years before taking a position with the Ware County Department of Family and Children Services, where he retired as director after 30 years of service.
Patrick Blanchard (’65) of Augusta, Georgia, passed away Nov. 4, 2024. Considered one of Georgia’s youngest bank presidents when he became president and CEO of Georgia State Bank in Martinez at age 30, he went on to found and run multiple other banks as president and CEO throughout his 52-year career. Blanchard served a two-year term as chairman of the board of directors of the Georgia Southern University Foundation, Inc., and served as chairman of the Business Advisory Council of the Parker College of Business at Georgia Southern. In 1999, he was inducted into the College’s Hall of Fame.
Melvin (Bobby) Dillard (’69) of Cartersville, Georgia, passed away Nov. 8, 2024. A proud member of the National Guard Reserve, he was also the facilities manager for the Georgia Department of Labor and retired at age 54 after more than 30 years as assistant labor commissioner.
David Tyler Sr. (’65) of Bloomingdale, Georgia, passed away Dec. 7, 2024. He served eight years in the U.S. Navy, and worked at Savannah City Hall and Great Dane Trailers for over 25 years. He was a jack-of-all-trades and could repair almost anything.
William (Billy) Inman Griffis (’69) of Statesboro, Georgia, died Feb. 26, 2025. He was a former vice president at Georgia Southern for University Advancement and External Relations. He began his career as a certified public accountant and later became president and CEO of TJ Morris. His civic engagement in the Statesboro community included serving as president of the Statesboro Rotary Club, president of Forest Heights Country Club, president of the Georgia Southern National Alumni Association and Chair of the Georgia Southern Athletic Foundation. He was also recognized by the Georgia House and Senate for public service to Georgia Southern University.
Mercer Max Griffin (’67) of Bainbridge, Georgia, passed away April 23, 2025. He retired from Decatur County Schools, having taught 30 years at Hutto Jr. High School. In retirement, he worked on the book mobile and taught adult education classes.
Carol Offt Smith (’65) of Winston-Salem, North Carolina, passed away April 29, 2025. She enjoyed taking care of her family and had a career in the real estate industry.
Earlene Hannon Proctor (’62) passed away May 23, 2025, in Nashville. She was a retired elementary school teacher in Georgia’s Thomas County School District.
Patsy Franklin Johnson (’69) passed away May 30, 2025, in Statesboro. She worked for the Bulloch County Commissioner’s office for over 20 years and served six terms as tax commissioner. She also taught dance for many years in Statesboro, Swainsboro, and Vidalia, Georgia.
Wendel H. Wilson (’66) of Springfield, Georgia, passed away June 2, 2025, at his home. He served in the National Guard and owned and operated a CPA firm for many years. He remained deeply connected to the University as a long-term member of the Georgia Southern Boosters, which became the Georgia Southern Athletics Foundation. He served on the Foundation’s board and executive committee, including many years as treasurer. He was also a proud member of the 1906 Society.
1970s
Charles Gillis III (’70), of Hoboken, Georgia, died Dec. 30, 2023, after an extended illness. He served in the National Guard and retired from Pierce County High School after serving as a teacher for 32 years.
Marjorie Cooper Gordon (’72) passed away May 23, 2024, at her home in Savannah at age 90. After starting her family, she began a career in residential real estate before moving on to commercial real estate. She completed a rigorous designation in taxation and law to become a Certified Commercial Investment Member, and blazed the Savannah real estate trail for women of all ages.
Jerry McNease (’72) of Colquitt, Georgia, died May 8, 2024, in the hospital. He was a former professor at Bainbridge College.
James “Jim” Majors (’72) of Thomaston, Georgia, passed away March 25, 2024, at his residence. He served in the U.S. Marines and owned an advertising business.
Christie King Kinsaul (’71, ’75) of Atlanta died April 13, 2024. The retired music educator was involved in musical activities throughout her life as a teacher, singer and director of various musical groups.
William “Paul” Myrcik (’70) of Jacksonville, Florida, died July 2, 2024, after a long battle with illness. His loving wife and caregiver remembers him as an avid surfer, musician and father.
Dorothy “Dotsey” Witcher Landon (’79, ’83) of Statesboro, Georgia, passed away Aug. 22, 2024. She retired from the Chatham County Board of Education and had lived in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, and Amelia Island, Florida, for the past 20 years.
1970s cont’d
Angelyn Jones (’73) of Dallas, Texas, passed away Jan. 23, 2025. She grew up on a Statesboro farm before using her degree in fashion merchandising to pursue careers in photography and marketing. She was known as a fashionista who loved fur coats, big belts, feathers and stilettos, which she wore on a retirement trip around the world.
Brenda Burch Bryant (’71) of Eastman, Georgia, died Jan. 23, 2025. A lifelong Dodge County resident, she retired after 31 years of teaching 5th grade at Dodge Elementary and North Dodge Elementary.
Anton (Tony) Tucker, Ph.D., (’79) died unexpectedly Feb. 1, 2025, in Perth, Australia. He grew up in Washington, Georgia, and followed his dream of making the world a better place by becoming a scientist and wildlife conservationist. He studied nesting sea turtles and was a renowned expert in crocodiles. He worked extensively as a senior scientist in the U.S. and Australia.
Archie McAfee (‘60, ’72, ’74) of Dublin, Georgia, died Feb. 15, 2025. The ordained minister was a music teacher for 34 years, teaching band, choir, general music and guitar in Savannah and Hinesville, Georgia, and for three school systems in Laurens County, Georgia.
Larry Harrison (’70) of Dalton, Georgia, passed away March 4, 2025. The U.S. Army veteran served in the Vietnam war and received the Vietnam Cross of Gallantry. Following his military service, he had a career of more than 40 years in the banking industry.
Charla Renee Culpepper (’77, ’89) of Lyons, Georgia, passed away April 24, 2025, in hospice care. She taught for 39 years in the Toombs County School system before her retirement. Her greatest joy was attending school events, activities, and the ballgames of her nieces and nephews and traveling with her family.
Robert Majors III (’70) of Savannah passed away May 22, 2025, at home. He served five years in the U.S. Air Force, then worked with several corporations, with his last position in the Savannah aerospace industry.
John Phillips Jr. Ph.D. (’72) of Midland, Georgia, died at home on May 27, 2025. He dedicated his life to advancing public education. He was the superintendent of schools in Georgia’s Muscogee County School District from 2003-2008 and served as interim superintendent from 2012-2013.
June Allison DiPolito (’71) of Statesboro passed away June 8, 2025. Her life was one of extraordinary purpose, compassion and grace. She dedicated her life to serving others, especially those navigating the challenges of mental health, developmental disabilities and substance use disorders. In 1972, she founded High Hope, a school for individuals with special needs. High Hope grew into a multi-faceted organization now known as Pineland Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities, which serves individuals and their families throughout eight counties in Georgia.
Jay “Mike” Callaway (’75) passed away at his home in Boynton Beach, Florida, June 12, 2025. He co-owned a property and casualty insurance agency and was active in many charitable and community organizations.
1980s
Mike Stewart (’87) of Thomaston, Georgia, died at home Feb. 18, 2024. He worked for AgSouth Farm Credit for 25 years, but was better known for the passion he brought to coaching softball, which he did for 30 years.
Brenda Gooding Cowart (’80) of Collins, Georgia, died Jan. 24, 2025, following complications from surgery. She was a school teacher for more than 30 years, retiring in 1997. She went on to help her husband in running Cowart’s Farm Fresh and was known for being the caregiver of numerous animals.
James Lovett (’88) of Statesboro, Georgia, died Jan. 20, 2025. A lifelong educator, Lovett began his teaching career in 1975 and was honored with numerous educational accolades, such as Teacher of the Year at Metter Middle School. He served in administrative roles with the Candler County Board of Education before retiring in 2004.
Guy Craig Weaver (’80) of Midway, Georgia, died Jan. 25, 2025, two days before his 78th birthday. He served his country during the Vietnam War as part of the Army Security Agency from 1970-1972. He spent 30 years teaching computer programming at Savannah Technical College.
Keith Corbin (’88) of Effingham, Georgia, passed away Jan. 26, 2025. He spent 25 years at Johnson Controls before moving onto Gulfstream Aerospace for 10 years.
Joel Killingsworth (’88) of Gainesville, Florida, passed away on Feb. 6, 2025, following a short illness. He was known for his love of spending quality time with his family, friends and pets.
Cornelia Ann Riley Stone (’84) of Statesboro, Georgia, passed away peacefully at home on March 5, 2025, with her husband of almost 60 years by her side. She taught elementary school for 25 years and was an accomplished carpenter, artist, landscaper and gardener.
Rayanna Murphy Redderson (’82) of Greenville, South Carolina, passed away April 12, 2025, after a short illness. She was a retired elementary school teacher.
Walter “Hughes” Protzman (’81) of Sisters, Oregon, passed away April 24, 2025, surrounded by his family. He served in the U.S. Navy during the Vietnam War, flying on and off aircraft carriers to refuel planes and jam enemy radar. He was ordained as a minister, serving churches in Georgia and as a missionary in South Korea for six years. He concluded his pastoral ministry in the Northwest.
Penny Ragan Zinsenhein (’86) of Marietta, Georgia, died at home June 29, 2025, following a liver cancer diagnosis. She loved teaching and opened the media center at an elementary school where she completed her career, retiring after 29 years.
Charlotte Armstrong Elliott (’99) of Statesboro passed away July 10, 2025, after an effort to overcome breast cancer. The design teacher loved traveling, fashion, fitness, interior design and most importantly, cats.
Clara Salley McAlhany (’82,’87) of Augusta, Georgia, passed away July 15, 2025. Her love of learning and children translated into 30 years as a teacher, leaving an impact on the lives of children in multiple counties and school districts.
1990s
Cheryl Roberts (‘95) of Sylvania, Georgia, passed away Feb. 21, 2024. She earned her education at Georgia Southern University in nursing and lived a full life with her family and grandchildren.
Deidre Murray (’96) of Lithonia, Georgia, passed away peacefully Sept. 17, 2024, leaving behind a legacy of friends and family that will cherish her memory for years to come. She was a proud member of Georgia Southern University’s Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority chapter.
Kenneth Johns (’93) of Waycross, Georgia, died Oct. 26, 2024, after a battle with heart disease. He graduated from Georgia Southern University with a degree in industrial engineering, which he used to work in the aerospace industry. His family remembers him as a man who was quick to give the shirt off his back to those in need, but always reluctant to lend a tool.
Kemisha Copeland (’97) of Mableton, Georgia, passed away Nov. 22, 2024. She was a caring and compassionate counselor.
Janna Whitley Moore (’95) of Brunswick, Georgia, passed away Dec. 23, 2024. She and her husband both taught middle and high school students until she earned her graduate degree in business, after which she worked with post-secondary education institutions.
Teri McElveen (’94) of Brooklet, Georgia, died Dec. 26, 2024, following a brief illness. She was known by her family for her love of education and the students she worked with as a special education teacher.
Kristie Waterfield, DrPH, (’96, ’14, ’19) of Homerville, Georgia, died Feb. 11, 2025, following a short illness. She was a triple eagle that went on to teach as an assistant professor at Georgia Southern University’s Jiann-Ping Hsu College of Public Health.
1990s cont’d
Ashley Robert Harmon (’98, ’00) of Nevils, Georgia, passed away March 2, 2025. His education in finance at Georgia Southern University prompted him to become an educator, teaching business classes at a post-secondary level, and he was recognized as Teacher of the Year for his enthusiasm.
Sarah Nakabugo Muwanga (’99) of Raleigh, North Carolina, passed away at home April 22, 2025. The native of Kampala, Uganda, held supervisory and management positions in the United States, Uganda and in the foreign service, where she worked for USAID in El Salvador, Nigeria, Ghana and Sudan.
Jimmy Kennedy (’95,’98) of Reidsville, Georgia, passed away April 26, 2025, at age 94. The farmer and business owner retired from the Department of Corrections, having served as a teacher, librarian and judge. While working in the prison system, he returned to college, graduating from Georgia Southern with a bachelor’s in justice studies and a Master of Public Administration. He was actively involved in civic and religious activities in Tattnall County.
Sean Weidman (’91) of Marietta, Georgia, passed away April 28, 2025. His love of life was evident in everything he did, and his resilience in the face of challenges was inspiring. An Eagle through and through, he was a passionate fan of Eagle football and tailgates.
George “Rusty” Palmer (’90) of Evans, Georgia, passed away May 30, 2025, after a pancreatic cancer diagnosis. He built a career in commercial insurance and enjoyed camping and fishing along the Georgia coast.
2000s
Daniel Lee Bentley (’07) of Savannah died Feb. 2024, after a short illness. He served in the U.S. Army and later worked as director of operations for a company providing computerized business solutions.
Gerald Allen Kehr, Ed.D., (’03) of Lebanon, Pennsylvania, died July 24, 2024, after a long and difficult illness. He served three years in the U.S. Army, including a tour of duty in Vietnam. He was an entrepreneur, opening multiple businesses, and taught at the U.S. Navy PACE program. In 2002, he was selected to be a Presidential Management Fellow and worked as an analyst for the Department of Education, retiring from federal service in 2011.
Rikki Madison Hagerty (’18) of Atlanta passed away August 15, 2024. Hagerty was known for her contagious sense of humor and knack for embracing life.
Steven Sanders (’00) of Statesboro died in hospice care August 30, 2024. The lifelong resident of Bulloch County had been employed with a local bank for 18 years and was an active member of the Statesboro Kiwanis Club, where he served as club treasurer.
Allison Leigh Elliott Cole (’07) of Statesboro, Georgia, passed away Nov. 8, 2024, her 40th birthday. She was a nurse at hospitals in Savannah and Statesboro.
Jerome McKinnon Jr. (’11) of Glenwood, Georgia, passed away Nov. 21, 2024. He had a successful career as an applications engineer in Loveland, Colorado. The U.S. Air Force veteran served as an intelligence analyst and shared his free time coaching a youth basketball team.
Tiara Johnson (’13) of Stockton, California, formerly of Sandersville, Georgia, died Nov. 22, 2024. She was employed as a trainer and curriculum writer, and also worked as a public health educator and health program coordinator.
Mpumelelo “Michele” Ray (’15) of Loganville, Georgia, passed away Jan. 27, 2025. She was born in Harare, Zimbabwe, and moved to the U.S. in 2001.
Samuel Lilley (’18) of Charlotte, North Carolina, died tragically in the collision between an American Airlines plane and a Black Hawk helicopter over the Potomac River in Washington, D.C., Jan. 29, 2025. He was one of the American Airlines pilots on board the aircraft. Lilley graduated from Georgia Southern in 2018 with a degree in marketing from the Parker College of Business. After graduation, he explored his options before following in his father’s footsteps to pursue an aviation career. In a statement released to WTOC, Georgia Southern President Kyle Marrero said, “The Georgia Southern community is deeply saddened by the loss of one of our outstanding alumni, Sam Lilley, who embodied the Eagle spirit and soared beyond in his career. We will continue to keep Sam’s family and friends in our thoughts as they grieve this tragedy.”
Ashley Livingston (’09) of Fernandina Beach, Florida, died Feb. 1, 2025. He built a thriving career in sales and was a beloved husband, father, son, brother and friend, whose warmth and kindness touched everyone who knew him.
Jake Smith (’19) of Acworth, Georgia, formerly of Smithville, Georgia, died Feb. 7, 2025. He was employed with a hospital in Cartersville, Georgia, and co-owned a business.
Zachary Sasser (’10) of Evans, Georgia, passed away unexpectedly March 17, 2025, leaving behind a legacy of laughter, love and unforgettable memories. Professionally, he thrived in business development, always finding ways to improve and innovate.
Martha “Marti” Davis Lee, Ph.D., (’03) a native of Tybee Island, Georgia, died March 20, 2025, surrounded by her loved ones. The lifelong scholar was an English professor at both Georgia Southern University and Armstrong Atlantic University for over 20 years. She made literature accessible and relevant, often challenging her students to see the world from different perspectives.
Joseph Anderson Jr. (’16) of Statesboro passed away April 9, 2025, at home. He worked for a lighting company and was known for his musical ability.
Alisha Diebold Goldbach (’07, ’14) of Pooler, Georgia, was treated for cancer and passed away May 8, 2024, surrounded by her husband and sisters. She earned two engineering degrees from Georgia Southern University, which took her to the engineering floor at Gulfstream. She loved being an engineer and was known as a person who could bring people together to solve complex and difficult problems.
Katie Bonebright Reams (’07,’15,’15) of Martin, Tennessee, died in the hospital May 13, 2025. She served as a lecturer and professor in the biology department at the University of Tennessee at Martin and loved all six of her cats.
Seth Parker (’14) of Lexington, Virginia, passed away May 19, 2025, at his childhood home in Newton, North Carolina. He was an avid outdoorsman, and his most recent position was with an agriculture research and extension center.
Brent Gibbs (’92) of Rochelle, Georgia, passed away June 9, 2025. The registered dietitian had recently retired from the State of Georgia.
Maria Pereira Rea (’07) of Statesboro died June 15, 2025, of pancreatic cancer. Affectionately known as “Mother Maria of the Migrants,” she was an educator for 30 years serving as a Spanish teacher, ESOL coordinator and teacher, and summer school coordinator for migrant and ESOL Students.
Seaborn Harden (’09) of Eastman, Georgia, passed away June 17, 2025. The industrial management major joined Robins Air Force and was promoted to lead engineering technician for corrective maintenance. He was honored with the ‘Wingman Service Award’ for his dedicated community service during Hurricane Helene.
Gabrielle Whisenton (’18) of Columbia, South Carolina, passed away June 19, 2025. Her passion for education and student development led her to serve in student affairs at Middle Tennessee State University and UNC Asheville, where she was known for her deep commitment to student success, mentorship, and building inclusive communities. At the time of her passing, she served as the assistant director of resident life at the University of South Carolina.
Eagle Nation
Professor David Williams, Ph.D., passed away Oct. 17, 2024, at a Savannah hospital due to complications of esophageal cancer. The associate dean for students and curriculum in the Allen E. Paulson College of Engineering and Computing never met a stranger and loved to talk about the college in which he worked.
Professor Emerita Kishwar Maur of Statesboro died Dec. 4, 2024, at age 91. She was a faculty member in the biology department for more than 30 years. She taught microbiology lectures and labs for allied health and nursing students, as well as plant pathology, mycology and botany labs. She was awarded emerita status in 1998. After retirement, she continued making contributions to the department, including teaching microbiology labs and chairing the Alumnus of the Year in Biology Committee.
Kathryn Burton Olliff of Statesboro passed away Dec. 19, 2024, in hospice care. As a nurse, she worked with several doctors in their private practices and was a surgical assistant at the Bulloch County Hospital. She often said,, “The positive ways that becoming a nurse changed my life are too many to count.” In 2015, to celebrate her 90th birthday, her family established the Kathryn Burton Olliff Nursing Scholarship at Georgia Southern University’s School of Nursing. She was proud that this scholarship enabled as many as 10 nursing students to stay in school that year by receiving a portion of the scholarship.
Talmadge Holmes Ramsey Jr. of Statesboro died Dec. 23, 2024, at a Savannah hospital. The lifelong resident of Bulloch County was a veteran of the U.S. Army, who served in the Vietnam War and was awarded medals for meritorious service in combat. The real estate developer was an avid supporter of Georgia Southern football. He served on the Georgia Southern Alumni Association Board and the Southern Boosters for many years. He also endowed scholarships at Georgia Southern and was instrumental in the creation of the Bennett-Ramsey Golf Facility.
Professor Kristie Cason Waterfield (’96,’14,’19) died Feb. 11, 2025, in a Savannah hospital following a short illness. The Triple Eagle was an assistant professor in the Jiann-Ping Hsu College of Public Health at Georgia Southern University. She was an avid Georgia Southern Eagle fan and loved Braves baseball, and liked to travel, cook, bake and crochet.
Professor Emeritus Frederick Sanders, Ph.D., of Statesboro passed away Feb. 12, 2025, in hospice care from Alzheimer’s disease. The literature professor joined Georgia Southern in 1969 and remained a professor until his retirement in 2004. He was instrumental in creating the Center for Irish Studies, established in March 1995, and he served as its director until he retired.
Professor Herbert “Herb” O’Keefe of Colonel’s Island, Georgia, died Feb. 22, 2025, at a Savannah hospital. He joined the U.S. Navy at age 18 and served on an aircraft carrier for two years. His passion for education led him to a fulfilling 20-year career as an accounting professor at Georgia Southern, where he inspired countless students and colleagues with his knowledge and dedication.
Professor John Kolpitche, DMA, passed away March 24, 2025, at home in Cornelius, North Carolina. He served on the Georgia Southern music faculty between 1973-85. He was the music director-conductor of the Georgia Southern-Statesboro Symphony Orchestra during those years.
Professor Emeritus James McMillan Jr. (’81) of Statesboro passed away April 22, 2025, in hospice care. He served seven years in the U.S. Navy, five of them as an electrician on the USS L. Mendel Rivers, a nuclear-powered, Sturgeon-class attack submarine. After leaving the Navy, he earned his bachelor’s degree from Georgia Southern University and his doctorate from Auburn University. He went on to teach exercise Science at Georgia Southern for almost 30 years, serving as department chair toward the end of his tenure. Reading was his lifelong passion, and his favorite stories were British mysteries.
Assistant Professor Emerita Virginia Smith White, Ed.D., of Savannah passed away June 12, 2025. From an early age, it was evident that learning and teaching would be her passion. By the age of three, she had already learned the Greek alphabet. An avid reader with a near photographic memory, she was a teacher in secondary schools before joining the English department at Armstrong State, where she continued to inspire and educate, receiving accolades such as the Outstanding Faculty Award and the Distinguished Alumni Award for Outstanding Teaching. In her second career, she was the program director for the Coastal Georgia Center for Continuing Education. She was active in the community, serving as a board member for several civic organizations.
Professor Emeritus Leo Gillis Parrish Jr. of Statesboro passed away June 28, 2025. Following his graduation from the Georgia Institute of Technology, the ROTC cadet commissioned as a Second Lieutenant into the U.S. Army where he completed paratrooper training and served in the Signal Corps. In 1974, he became a professor in Georgia Southern’s College of Business Administration and later chaired the Department of Management. After a stint at Savannah State, he returned to Georgia Southern to serve as the interim dean of several different colleges, including Arts and Sciences, Science and Technology, and Education. He retired in May 2000.