Dr. Guice Blog on the passing of professor Dr. Gene Callens

[olddog75]

http://guiceblog.latech.edu/2013/12/...-gene-callens/

Getting to know Gene and Barbara Callens through our shared love of Louisiana Tech while watching our Bulldogs on the football field has been a significant blessing for my wife and I. We sat at the top of section EE for a decade cheering, crying and sharing our feelings about Tech. Clearly, Gene was a brilliant man at heights I could never see must less understand, but yet a warm and caring individual that was evident every game when former students came up to talk to him. They must have seen him when he was blowing the vuvuzela horn so loud, even the kids were speechless.

My wife and I will miss Gene greatly, he is but another example of the greatness that is Louisiana Tech. But for our school, our paths would have never crossed.

[Guisslapp]

Dave, thank you for posting this. It probably would not surprise you to know that Gene continued to follow all the Tech football games from his house over the last 2 years although his immune system was too compromised to be physically present at the Joe, even watching the last several on an iPad when he was too weak to get out of bed. He considered you and Jane dear friends and spoke of you two often.

Gene was a truly remarkable man. Sure, he was brilliant - exceedingly brilliant. For Tech, he was an influential professor, a mentor to other of Tech's most excellent professors, a valued researcher and had a special talent for administration. He saved at least one life, radically improved many, and some will argue that he played a critical role in ending the Cold War. Perhaps his model of the physical electron and emergent universe will one day be accepted and taught as the modern understanding of quantum and Newtonian physics - a single model unifying two divergent fields of physics.

But the two most important lessons he ever taught were how to live a life of integrity and how to build a strong family centered around the unwavering love and commitment of a husband and wife. These lessons he taught both by lecture and example. I consider myself very fortunate to have known him, and am so very proud to be his son-in-law. He will be dearly missed.

[Guisslapp]

Edit to add - the family asked that money be donated to Louisiana Tech COES in lieu of flowers. A Gene Callens Memorial Fund has been established.

If you, or anyone else you know, are interested in contributing, such a contibution can be made from

www.latechalumni.org (select giving and then giving in honor/memory)

Or, by mail, to

Louisiana Tech University Foundation
PO Box 3183
Ruston, LA 71272

Just comment "Gene Callens Memorial Fund". Don't forget to notify your employer in case they match educational gifts!

[skilldawg]

Sorry for your loss. Sounds like your father-in-law was a great man.