News Briefs

EAS prof wins top AMS recognition

Professor Peter Webster of both the School of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences and the School of Civil and Environmental Engineering has been selected by the American Meteorological Society as the winner of the Carl Gustaf Rossby Research Medal.

The society presents the medal, its highest honor for an atmospheric scientist, each year for contributions to the understanding of the workings of Earth’s atmosphere. Webster made “fundamental contributions to tropical meteorology and oceanography.” He will receive the award Jan. 14, 2004.

Prof wins $20,000 doctoral grant

Tech graduate and assistant professor in the School of Mechanical Engineering Samuel Graham recently received a $20,000 grant from FACES (Facilitating Academic Careers in Engineering and Science), a Georgia Tech program meant to guide minority students to careers in academia. The money is meant to help newly-graduated minority doctoral students foster a research program to help initiate their academic careers.

Other Tech grads to win the award this year include William Robinson, a doctoral student in Electrical and Computer Engineering, and Chekesha Liddell, a doctoral student in Materials Science and Engineering.

COE administrator dies of heart attack

Tech alumnus Douglas Ray Holley, 54, died Sept. 25 after suffering a massive heart attack. He graduated in 1973 with a bachelor’s degree in textile management, and returned to Tech in 1997 to raise funds for the School of Polymer, Textile and Fiber Engineering.

He was recently appointed director of development for the College of Engineering. Holley is survived by wife Becky Holley; daughters Hope Holley, Heather Hamby and Hayes Willet; two granddaughters; mother May Holley; and three siblings.

Wilcox appoints interim CRC head

Kirk McQueen will serve as interim director of the Department of Campus Recreation. Vice President of Student Affairs Lee Wilcox announced McQueen would handle the position until a committee can complete a nationwide search for a permanent replacement for former director Butch Stanphill.

Stanphill left his position Sept. 26 after serving at the Institute for 21 years. Stanphill left to take a similar position at Clemson.