Don “Doc” Frederick Keller (1938-2025) Dr. Keller, Clemson Professor Emeritus of Educational Psychology and Counseling, of Easley, South Carolina, passed away on Wednesday, December 31, 2025. Dr. Keller began teaching at Clemson University in 1973 and retired thirty-three years later in 2006. After his tenure at Clemson, he continued his teaching career at Anderson University until his retirement in 2012. In addition to his formal teaching roles, Dr. Keller was actively involved in the broader community, working in Pastoral Care at Baptist Easley Hospital and owning Directions Incorporated Counseling Clinic from 1976 to 2000. Dr. Keller’s impact on the educational community was further recognized through his leadership roles, including serving as President of the South Carolina School Counselor Association and as a President of Sigma Phi Epsilon. He was also proud to be an honorary member of the Block C Club at Clemson University. He proudly served in the US Navy and was a member of Rock Springs Baptist Church.
Garnett Lowell Bradford (1935-2025) Garnett Bradford, Clemson Professor Emeritus of Agricultural and Applied Economics, passed away on Tuesday, December 30, 2025, at Trinity Grove. Dr. Bradford began at Clemson in 1988, served as Department Chair of Agricultural Economics and Rural Sociology, and retired in 2001 after 12.5 years of service. Garnett graduated from Harrison County High School in 1953 and went on to earn a B.S. and M.S. degrees in agricultural economics from the University of Kentucky. After working two years in agribusiness, Garnett joined the economics faculty at North Carolina State University where he taught and conducted applied economics research and earned a Ph. D in applied economics and mathematical statistics. From 1954 through 1961 Garnett served in the U.S. Army Reserves.
William Doyce Graham Jr. (1939-2025) William Doyce Graham, Jr., died on Sunday, November 2, 2025, in Clemson, South Carolina. Born on February 22, 1939, in Clarendon, Texas, Doyce was the eldest son of the late William Doyce Graham, Sr. and Viola Fay Barker Graham. He received his early education in Clarendon, graduating from Clarendon High School and Clarendon Junior College before earning a B.S. in Agronomy from Texas Tech in 1962. His academic pursuits led him to Purdue University, where he earned a master’s and PhD in Agronomy. In 1966, Doyce began a career at Clemson University, serving as a professor of Plant Breeding and Genetics until his retirement in 2003. He served as department chair for Crops and Soil Environmental Science. His research in small grains took place at Experiment Stations around South Carolina. In a testament to his contributions, Clemson University released the “Graham” oat in 2012, and the Virginia Agricultural Experiment Station released “Doyce,” a type of hulless winter barley, in 2003.
Samuel Bruce Martin Jr. (1954-2025) Samuel Bruce Martin Jr., Professor Emeritus of Plant Pathology, of Florence, SC passed away on Wednesday, October 15, 2025, after an illness. Bruce retired from Clemson University in 2018 after 31-year career in Plant Pathology serving the Turf grass industry regionally and internationally. He was born in Conway, AR and received a BS degree from Hendrix College, an MS degree from the University of Arkansas and a PhD from North Carolina State University. Among his many awards were CALS North Carolina State University Outstanding Alumni Award, Clemson University Alumni Award for Distinguished Service, Crop Science Society of America Turfgrass Science Award and Myrtle Beach Golf Hall of Fame. Bruce was a true outdoorsman with a passion for hunting and fishing, and a good friend to many.
John Joseph Kanet (1946-2025) John “Jack” Joseph Kanet, Burlington Professor Emeritus of Management, passed away peacefully on October 13, 2025, surrounded by loving family. He was born in Chicago, IL to the late John and Irene Kanet on March 13, 1946. He grew up in Tyrone, PA where he first became a fan of the Penn State Nittany Lions. After graduating from Lehigh University, he worked at Black & Decker in Maryland as Production & Inventory Control Manager over the largest power tool manufacturing facility in the nation. He later earned a doctoral degree from Penn State University and began his career in academia, dedicating many years to teaching business and production management and inspiring countless students with his knowledge and passion. He was on the faculty of University of Georgia and Texas A&M University, before coming to Clemson University in 1986 as the Burlington Professor of Management, retiring in 2002.
Ken Revis-Wagner (1943-2025) Ken Revis-Wagner, Clemson University Alumni Master Teacher and Professor Emeritus of Biological Sciences, died at home in Clemson on Thursday, September 4, 2025, after a prolonged “adventure” with skin cancer. Born Charles Kenyon Wagner on March 11, 1943, in Cleveland, Ohio, to Charles Henry Wagner and Betty Schlesinger Wagner. He graduated from Lake View High School in Winter Garden, Florida, in 1961 and from Emory University with a degree in Ecology in 1965. He went on to earn a master’s degree and Ph.D. in Biology from the University of Georgia. His doctoral research was on the effect of owls on small mammal populations in the forests of Turev, Poland. Ken’s teaching career began at Southwestern at Memphis (now Rhodes College); he came to Clemson in 1977 and began a long and storied career as a biology professor, pre-med advisor, Alumni Master Teacher, loyal women’s basketball supporter, longtime resident of the Cheap Seats at Clemson Baseball games, and bartender and storyteller at Nick’s Tavern and Deli for the 29 years that Esther owned the business. As the 1990-91 Alumni Master Teacher, he and Esther got to “Dot the i” at the first Clemson football game.
Elisa Kay Sparks (1951–2025) Elisa Kay Sparks, Associate Professor Emerita of English, beloved scholar, artist, and teacher, passed away on August 16, 2025, in Seattle, Washington. She leaves behind a legacy of intellectual brilliance, artistic creativity, and generosity of spirit that touched countless lives. Born May 31, 1951, in Huntsville, Texas, Elisa earned her Ba in English from Bryn Mawr College in 1973, and in 1978 she completed both her M.A. and Ph.D. at Indiana University. In 1978, Elisa joined the English Department at Clemson University, where she taught literature and women’s studies for 35 years. She was known as a gifted teacher—her science fiction courses were among the most popular on campus—and a tireless colleague who helped establish Clemson’s Women’s Studies program. She also directed the freshman composition program and embraced new technologies in the classroom long before they became standard. She served unofficially as dramaturg for Robin Roberts’ original play, The Killing Frost, as well as helping immensely with Hot L Baltimore, directed by Chip Egan. When Clemson’s restructuring of the Colleges occurred, Elisa’s influence extended to her suggestion that the newly created College of Architecture, Arts, and Humanities could be a ‘platform for collaboration,’ which then President Jim Barker immediately recognized as a profound insight, encouraging faculty to create cross-disciplinary assignments and conduct collaborative research. Elisa’s academic and scholarly life was characterized by a deep and passionate engagement with literature, particularly the works of Virginia Woolf. She explored the use of parks, gardens, and flowers in Virginia Woolf’s life and work, exploring connections between Woolf and the American Modernist painter Georgia O’Keefe, revealing a shared vision of floral imagery and modernist aesthetics. She was invited as a guest lecturer during a women writer’s summer seminar at Ghost Ranch, New Mexico, where she discussed the connections between Woolf and O’Keefe in the heart of O’Keefe’s landscape.
E. Earl Burch Jr. (1943-2025) Earl Burch of Central, SC, Professor Emeritus of Business Administration and Mathematical Sciences, passed on August 16, 2025, surrounded by family. Earl retired from Clemson University in 1999 after teaching for 30 years. Earl earned a Bachelor of Science in Mathematics at Clemson University in 1966. He was a member of Blue Key, the Director of Tigerama in 1965, Treasurer of the Student Body and President of Kappa Sigma Nu. He earned a Master of Science in Industrial Management and a Doctorate in Engineering Management, both from Clemson University. Earl taught for 3 years in the School of Business at Georgia State University in Atlanta, GA, before he took a position at Clemson University. Earl also consulted with companies worldwide in the areas of Quality Management, Statistical Process Control and Six Sigma Methodology.
Rose Jones Davis (1940 — 2025) Dr. Rose Jones Davis, Clemson Professor Emerita of Family and Youth Development, passed away on August 5th, 2025. She was born in Greenville, SC to the late Robert Morgan Jones and Ellen Moseley Jones. She graduated from Winthrop University and received her BS and MS degrees from there. She received her doctorate from the University of South Carolina. She began work at Clemson University in 1978 and retired in 1999 after 28 years of service. Rose taught high school in Gastonia, NC and at the college level at Georgia Southern University. She worked in research at the University of Georgia. She spent 30 years as a Nutrition Specialist with the Clemson University Cooperative Extension Service. She received many honors and awards, but the one she was most proud of was the Clemson Alumni Association’s Cooperative Extension Distinguished Public Service Award.
George Calvin Skelley Jr. (1937 — 2025) George Calvin Skelley, Jr., a cherished husband, father, grandfather, and Clemson University Professor Emeritus of Animal and Veterinary Science passed away on July 26th. His life was one of unwavering dedication to his family, education, and faith, serving as an inspiration to all who knew him. George completed his master’s and PhD at the University of Kentucky and took a position at Clemson, retiring in 1998. Born in 1937 in Boise City, Oklahoma, to George Calvin and Catherine Belle May Skelley, George was raised on The Skelley Hereford Ranch in the Kenton, Oklahoma. He went on to pursue his love for agriculture at Panhandle A & M College, earning a BS in Animal Science in 1958, and later his master’s and PhD at University of Kentucky. George’s professional journey was marked by outstanding contributions to the field of animal science. As a professor in the Animal Science Department at Clemson University, he authored over 250 research papers, popular articles, and abstracts. He left a remarkable legacy of scholarship and mentorship.
B.R. Skelton (1933 — 2025) B.R. Skelton, Clemson Professor Emeritus of Economics, passed away on July 21, 2025. He was born on January 21, 1933, to the late B.C. and Hattie Vaughn Skelton. B.R. was married to Vickie R. Skelton. B.R. grew up in Clemson. He graduated from Calhoun-Clemson High School and went on to receive his BS in 1956 and MS in Agricultural Economics in 1958 from Clemson University. B.R. graduated with a PhD in Economics from Duke University in 1964. After graduating from Duke, B.R. returned to begin teaching Economics at Clemson University. He retired in 1987 as an Emeritus Professor of Economics. B.R. was a member of Tiger Brotherhood and faculty advisor to Kappa Alpha fraternity. After retirement in 1987, he began his second career as an Arbitrator/Mediator. He was nationally recognized and invited to join the prestigious National Academy of Arbitrators in 1981. He continued this career until he decided to run for state office in 2002. He was elected to the SC House of Representatives representing the Clemson, Central, Six Mile areas. He served from 2002-2014. B.R. devoted almost 40 years of his life to public service beginning with his tenure on the Clemson City Council in the 1970s and continuing to his service in the SC House. B.R. served on Pickens County Planning Commission. He was Chair of Alliance Pickens, Chair of PC Transportation C Fund Committee, Chair of the PC Commerce Park Subcommittee. B.R. was the first recipient of the Clemson University Board of Visitors Legislative Leadership award in 2011.
William “Bill” Frederick Beckwith (1934 — 2025) William “Bill” Frederick Beckwith, Clemson Professor Emeritus of Chemical Engineering, Director of General Engineering, and Clemson Tennis Coach, of Central, SC, passed away on July 13th, 2025. Bill retired from Clemson University in 1999 after 36 years of teaching. Bill was born on October 4th, 1934, to the late Fritz and Wilma Beckwith in Marshalltown, Iowa. He graduated with a PhD in Chemical Engineering from Iowa State University in 1963. Following graduation, Bill worked as a professor at Clemson University. Bill also served as the Head Tennis Coach at Clemson after serving 7 years as assistant coach for the program.
Paul Bernard Zielinski (1932-2025) Paul Bernard Zielinski, Clemson Professor Emeritus of Civil Engineering and Director of Water Resource Research, passed away on July 10, 2025. Paul was a proud graduate of Marquette University and earned his Ph.D. in Civil Engineering from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. He took a teaching position at Marquette University. In 1967, Paul accepted a professorship in Civil Engineering at Clemson University, retiring in 1990. He was passionate about teaching and was beloved by his students. Paul also worked on research grants, especially with the South Carolina Sea Grant Consortium. Paul loved all things Clemson Tigers and was a longtime season ticket holder for football, basketball, and baseball. In 1990, after retirement from Clemson, he accepted the position of Assistant Director for the Associateship Program at the National Academy of Sciences-National Research Council in Washington, DC.
Chalmers McNair Butler (1935 — 2025) Chalmers McNair Butler, Clemson Alumni Distinguished Professor Emeritus of Electrical and Computer Engineering, passed away peacefully with family by his side on Tuesday, June 10, 2025, in Clemson, South Carolina. Chalmers earned his bachelor’s and master’s degrees at Clemson University and his PhD (1962) at University of Wisconsin Madison. After establishing a national reputation as a highly skilled researcher, a tireless worker, and an exceptional teacher, Chalmers returned to Clemson University in 1985 where he remained until retirement in 2012. Following the success at Ole Miss, his career path took him to a short stint at the University of Houston and then, in 1985, back to Clemson, his alma mater, where he would spend the remainder of his career, eventually being named an Alumni Distinguished Professor and the Warren H. Owen Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering. Chalmers was also very active in the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) and its Antennas and Propagation Society. He was honored with IEEE’s Fellow distinction and was a dedicated member of Commissions B and F of the United States National Committee for the International Union of Radio Science (USNC-URSI), serving in countless leadership positions and advocacy roles, including serving as the Chair of USNC-URSI Commission B from 1983 to 1985. His outstanding research gained him international recognition, and he served the international community in his role as Chair of Commission B (Electromagnetic Theory) of international URSI from 1997 to 1999. He was also a member of Sigma Xi, Tau Beta Pi, Phi Kappa Phi, and Eta Kappa Nu.
George M. Moore (1931-2025) George M. Moore, Associate Vice President for Institutional Advancement, Retired, passed away on April 23, 2025. George enjoyed a 29-year career at Clemson University serving from 1959 until his retirement in 1988. The youngest son of the late Thomas Stephen Moore and Irene Elrod Moore. George entered Clemson College as a Freshman ROTC Cadet in September 1949 but left to enlist in the USAF during the Korean War. He served with the 12th Fighter Wing, 8th Air Force, out of Austin, TX with extended duty at Manston RAF in England and Misawa AFD in Japan. After military service he studied Public Relations at The University of Texas and earned his Bachelor of Science degree at Clemson University in 1958. He was a member of Tiger Brotherhood, Blue Key, and PKA Fraternity.
Herman Frank Senter (1943-2025) Associate Professor Emeritus of Mathematics at Clemson University, passed away on April 25, 2025, in Clemson, South Carolina. He was born on July 9, 1943, in Charlotte, North Carolina, to the late Loy and Ruby Frank Senter. He is survived by his beloved partner, Thelma Miller of Walhalla, SC, his sister, Kathryn Senter Gettys of Pittsboro NC, and his brother, George Loy Senter Jr. (Patty) of Norfolk, VA. Herman earned his Bachelor of Science in Applied Mathematics from North Carolina State University in 1965, followed in 1967 by a Master of Science in Textile Technology from the Institute of Textile Technology in Charlottesville, VA. He returned to NC State to earn his PhD in Mathematical Sciences in 1973. He began his academic career at Fayetteville State University in 1973 as an Assistant Professor of Mathematics before joining the faculty at Clemson University in 1974. Over the course of his distinguished career, he rose to the rank of Associate Professor and was named Professor Emeritus upon his retirement in 2009
James Wayne Patterson (1948 — 2025) Dr. James Wayne Patterson, Professor Emeritus of Management, passed away unexpectedly on March 27, 2025. Wayne was born in 1948 to James Ebbie and Maudie Vitina Patterson. He grew up in a rural area very close to Andalusia, Alabama. He married his high school sweetheart, Cheryl Cook, in 1967. He completed a BS and MA in Business Statistics at the University of Alabama, and a PhD in Business Administration from the University of Arkansas. Wayne embodied the role of educator with a distinguished career as a college professor, teacher and researcher, dedicating over 40 years to teaching at Troy University, The Citadel, and Clemson University, retiring as full Professor from Clemson in 2008. Beyond his professional life, Wayne enjoyed bass fishing, hunting, gardening, and attending sporting events, particularly those of his alma mater, the University of Alabama. Wayne was an exemplary member of First Baptist Church of Pendleton and served in every leadership and/or supportive position possible- be it working with youth, teaching Sunday school, serving as Chair of Deacons among others.
John Henry Walker (1937-2025) Dr. John Henry Walker, Clemson Professor Emeritus of Educational and Organizational Leadership Development, and resident of Anderson, passed away Monday, March 3, 2025. Born August 24, 1937, in Harrison, Arkansas, he was the son of the late Albert Monroe and Ruby Clementine Klepper Walker. Dr. Walker was a professor at Clemson University. He earned two doctorates, a PhD from the University of Texas-Austin and EdD from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. John was very active in volunteer work. He traveled to Bucharest, Romania several times to work with the Ruth School, which serves the Romany People. He also built houses, and did construction work for several non-profits. John was a member of Boulevard Baptist Church for over 51 years.
Richard Delose Ringeisen (1944 — 2025) Dr. Richard Ringeisen, former Clemson Professor and Assistant Chair of Mathematics, and member of the Emeritus College, a resident of Seneca, SC, passed away on February 18, 2025. Dr. Ringeisen graduated from Manchester University (Manchester, IN) in 1966, and obtained a Doctorate in Mathematics from Michigan State University in 1970. He spent the first ten years of his career teaching and doing graph theory research at Colgate University, Indiana-Purdue at Fort Wayne, and at the Air Force Research Laboratory (Dayton, OH) before settling at Clemson University in 1979, becoming the Assistant Department Chair at the Mathematical Sciences Department. Dr. Ringeisen was promoted to Head of the Department in 1988 and served in that capacity until he left the University in 1993. Throughout his career he continued research and published in areas including graph embedding, crossing numbers, and maximum genus.
Larry Wilson Hudson (1942-2025) Larry Wilson Hudson, Professor Emeritus of Animal and Veterinary Science, of Central, SC, passed away on Sunday, February 9, 2025, at Upstate Community Hospice House in Landrum, SC due to complications from a chronic illness. Larry retired from Clemson University in 1999 after working 28 years in the Animal Science department as both a professor and horse specialist within the Extension Service. He consulted on equine issues across the state of SC and fostered youth education initiatives, such as district and state level horse camps and 4-H programs. Larry was actively involved in making the Garrison Arena’s presence in Clemson a reality. In 1988, he was awarded for his support of the Southern Regional 4-H Horse Championships. He was active in regional and national horse shows and served annually in leadership roles with the State Horse Show, while working to establish the Garrison Arena in Clemson. He served as the President of the Extension Senate and earned awards in both 1988 and 1996 for Superior Service in the Clemson Extension Service. He was a National Extension Leadership Development Program intern from 1990-1993. In 1993 he won the Extension Master Teacher Award
Michael Bader Pursley (1945-2025) Dr. Michael B. Pursley, husband of Lou Ann Pursley, passed away on Tuesday, January 14, 2025. In 1992, Dr. Pursley became the first Holcombe Endowed Chair in Electrical and Computer Engineering at Clemson University. After retiring in 2018, he was granted the title of Emeritus Professor at Clemson University in recognition of his service to the university and students. Dr. Pursley received the Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering in 1967 and the Master of Science in Electrical and Computer Engineering in 1968, both from Purdue University. From 1968 to 1974, he was employed in the Space and Communications Group of the Hughes Aircraft Company in Los Angeles. During this time, he also worked toward his Ph.D. in Electrical and Computer Engineering at the University of Southern California. After completing his Ph.D. degree in 1974, he joined the faculty of the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, where he was promoted to the rank of Professor in 1980.
