Thomas Lux Poet and Teacher
Thomas Lux, of Atlanta, on Feb. 5. LUX WAS AN ACCLAIMED POET who anchored the Poetry@ Tech program for 15 years. He passed away at age 70 following a lengthy illness. The New York Times described Lux as “a poet who used spare, direct language to express the absurdities and sorrows of human life.” His 1994 collection, “Split Horizon,” won the Kingsley Tufts Poetry Award, one of the most lucrative prizes in American poetry. A native of Northampton, Mass., Lux earned a bachelor of arts in English literature from Emerson College in Boston and attended the University of Iowa. He was Emerson’s poet in residence from 1970 to 1975, and in 2002, the college awarded him an honorary doctor of letters. Before coming to Georgia Tech as a visiting professor in 2001, he taught around the country at programs including the University of Houston Graduate Writing Program, Boston University Graduate Writing Program, University of Iowa Writers Workshop, Sarah Lawrence College and more. He was named the Margaret T. and Henry C. Bourne Jr.
Blountville, Tenn., on Jan. 14 . Army. Superintendent of Acid Concentration Department, Eastman Kodak. James E. Thornton, ChE 52, of Macon, Ga., on April 13. General manager of the Finishing Division, Bibb Co. J. Kenneth Waid, IE 56, of Carrollton, Ga., on March 29. Former president, West Georgia Area Georgia Tech Club. Sons: Scott Waid, EE 88; J. Steven Waid, ME 95. Daughter-in-law: Sandra A. Waid, EE 88. Grandson: Christopher Waid, Cls 21. Joe L. Watson, Arch 58, of Memphis, Tenn., on March 12. Navy. Korean War. Partner, Awsumb Wage and Watson. City of Memphis Division of Engineering. Fred Williams, EE 50, of Louisville, Ky., on March 10. Navy. WWII. AT&T. BellSouth. South Central Bell.
Chair in Poetry at Georgia Tech in 2002, and he served in that capacity until his death. “Tom Lux was not only a great poet, he was also a great teacher of poetry,” said G. Wayne Clough, president emeritus of the Institute, who was instrumental in bringing Lux to Georgia Tech. “He brought poets to campus, engaged engineering and business students in poetry, and reached out to the larger community. Tom made our campus a more vibrant place to grow and learn and he will be greatly missed." In addition to his teaching career, Lux produced a large volume of work. He published 19 books of poetry, including his most recent book, “To the Left of Time,” published last year. His work appeared in more than 55 anthologies, and Lux counted 31 essays among his credited works. He served as panelist or judge more than a dozen times in his career, and he earned a total of 16 awards and grants.
1960s Gerald W. “Jerry” Buran, IE 68, of Ormond Beach, Fla., on March 29. IBM. Worldwide director of sales and marketing, DCA. Brother: Ronald D. “Ron” Buran, ME 59. James M. Caldwell, MS InfoSci 68, of Highland Village, Texas, on Feb. 27. Air Force (Lt. Col.). John H. Crouch III, AE 61, of Long Beach, Miss., on Feb. 28. Boeing. Attorney, Paceco Inc. Arkel International. Ingalls Shipbuilding. NASA, “Silver Snoopy” Award. Editor-inChief, Journal of Space Law. Staff member, Mississippi Law Journal. Commissioner, Long Beach Water Management District. President, Long Beach School Board. President, Harrison County Bar Association. Author, “The Monocacy Legacy” and “When Saturn Hit the Moon: The Saturn V Lunar Impact Story.”
John C. Ganchoff, PhD Chem 63, of Daly City, Calif., on April 3. Chemistry professor, Elmhurst College. Hugh W. Gaston Jr., EE 63, of Euharlee, Ga., on March 13. Army. Korean War. Lockheed Corp. Brunswick Paper Co. Georgia Pacific. Inland Container. Key engineer, Southern Designs. Quality technical engineer, Mobile, Ala. Engineer, Weatherby Inc. Son: Robert Gaston, MATE 94. George R. “Rocky” Harper, IM 64, of Coral Gables, Fla., on Feb. 20. Theta Chi Fraternity. Navy. Partner, Paul, Landy, Beiley and Harper PA. Partner, Steel Hector & Davis LLP. Co-founder, Harper Meyer Perez Hagen O’Connor Albert & Dribin LLP. Chairman, international law section of The Florida Bar. Hispanic Business Magazine Legal Elite List. Super Lawyers. Miami Today’s Book of Leaders. Recipient of the
Volume Volume93 93No. No.222017 2017| | GTALUMNI.ORG/MAGAZINE | 95