Atlanta Developer John Aderhold To say that John E. Aderhold loved downtown Atlanta, as the businessman and developer’s son Tom noted to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution late this summer, seems like an understatement. Many love the bustling heart of Atlanta’s capital. But few can claim that their love of the city has played such an integral role in shaping its future as did that of Aderhold, who died Aug. 10 at age 85. Born and bred in Atlanta, Aderhold earned a degree in electrical engineering from Tech in 1945. From 1950 to 1952, he served in the U.S. Navy. Then, in 1967, he returned to Tech for his master’s in science in industrial engineering. He worked for a time at Rayloc, Inc., retired as Chairman and CEO, then turned his energy to his city. Acting as a liaison between the Georgia World Congress Center and local government, he was a driving force in the development of the Georgia Dome, and his Aderhold Properties group backed such projects as Underground Atlanta and the transformation of the Fulton Bag and Cotton Mills buildings into the Cabbagetown Stacks loft apartments, among others. Aderhold served as director on a number of local boards, including Atlanta Streetcar, Inc. He co-chaired the Corporation Charlie McLaughlin, IE 48, of Rancho Palos Verdes, Calif., on Jul 23. He served as a commissioned officer in the U.S. Navy. Samuel C. McLendon, PHE 43, of Palm Beach, Fla., on Aug. 15. He served for three years in World War II on a heavy cruiser and assault troop transport in the Pacific. He was a partner and part owner of the consulting engineering firm H2M Group and was a member of the Georgia Tech Club of the Palm Beaches. Andrew H. Muzio, ME 45, of Akron, Ohio, on Sept. 4. He served as a Naval officer for seven years, serving in the Pacific during World War II and in the Korean War. He worked for the R.D. Cole Manufacturing Company and later Babcock and Wilcox. W. Vincent Neisius, ChE 40, of Atlanta,
on Sept. 18. While a student at Tech, he was a member of the Sigma Phi Epsilon fraternity. After receiving his master’s in mathematics from Emory, he returned to Tech and taught math for 10 years. Later, he helped design some of the earliest computers, working for Thompson-Ramo-Wooldridge from 1961 until his retirement in 1987. A member of Mensa, his favorite saying was, “Oh joy, oh rapture!” Edwin King Nelson III, GE 49, of Tampa, Fla., on July 27. He served on the Coast Guard Reserve and retired after a 39-year career at the Tampa Electric Company. Survivors include his son Phillip Nelson, IM 81. Francis M. “Rip” Ripley, Cls 40, of Decatur, Ga., on Aug. 30. He served in the U.S. Army in Japan after the end of World War II. He retired from Southern Bell after 36
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for Olympic Development in Atlanta, spearheading local efforts to prepare the city to host the world at the 1996 summer games. He continued to support the Institute as well, serving as President of the Alumni Association (1976), chair of the Georgia Tech Foundation (1987-1989) and on the Georgia Tech Foundation’s Real Estate Committee until his death. years as a field engineer. James G. Robertson, Jr., EE 49, of Dallas, Texas, on Aug. 10. Before attending Tech, he served in World War II as a naval combat aircraft radar technician in the Pacific. He retired from IBM after 35 years and founded the Root Seekers Genealogical Society. Charles “Chuck” Wallace Samford, CE 47, MS CE 79, of Duval, Fla., on July 17. His undergraduate career at Tech was interrupted by his service in the U.S. Army in World War II. From 1979-1988, he and his wife, Mary, served the Presbyterian Church (USA) in Malawi, Africa. Survivors include his son Charles M. Samford, CE 78, and grandson Timothy Samford, ME 07. Edwin Houston Smith, EE 47, of Atlanta, on Aug. 8. His undergraduate studies at
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