Paul R. Jones, Denton, professor of chemistry who worked at North Texas from 1968 to 2006, died Aug. 16. He earned his bachelor’s degree from Pennsylvania State University and his doctorate from Purdue. He also conducted post-doctoral studies at the University of Wisconsin at Madison and had served as a visiting scientist at the Korean Advanced Institute of Science and Technology in Seoul. At UNT, he was director of the Center for Organometallic Research and Education and was awarded grants from the National Science Foundation, the U.S. Air Force and the Robert A. Welch Foundation. He was active in the American Chemical Society, among other organizations. In 1994, he was named a Student Association Honor Professor at UNT.

John S. Gossett, Denton, undergraduate advisor and associate professor of communications studies since 1981, died June 7. He served as chair of the Department of Communication Studies from 1989 to 2006. The UNT Debate Team won 20 intercollegiate tournaments under his leadership.

Gossett taught courses in rhetoric and public address and advised undergraduate and graduate students. He participated in the governance of the National Debate Tournament, serving as a member of the tournament committee and board of trustees and as chair of the board. He was a former president of the Texas Speech Communication Association, which named him University Educator of the Year in 2003. He also received UNT’s ’Fessor Graham Award, the Honors Faculty Excellence Award and the Joe G. Steward Distinguished Service Award.

Gossett served as advisor to former Texas Gov. Mark White and as an analyst for Dallas’ KDFW-TV. He earned his doctorate from the University of Southern California. Memorials may be made to the John S. Gossett Memorial Debate Scholarship in the Department of Communication Studies. To donate, call 940-565-2342 or e-mail stan.walker@unt.edu.

Fannie Belle Peak Gaupp, Denton, professor Emeritus of sociology who worked at North Texas from 1965 to 1986, died Dec. 12. She was the director of the sociology department’s social welfare sequence when it received national approval from the Council on Social Work and Education. She earned degrees from Baylor University and the University of Wisconsin and was a member of the League of Women Voters and a volunteer at the Denton State School.

W.E. 'Bill' Perkins, Sarasota, Fla., professor of business education and marketing from1970 to 1996, died March 14, 2008. He held bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Ball State and a doctorate from UCLA. In addition to teaching occupational, vocational and business education, he served as the university’s coordinator of alternative class scheduling, coordinating weekend, off-campus and closed-circuit television courses. He spoke frequently about business communications and wrote several business textbooks as well as the book Moving to the Positive Side.

Norval F. Pohl, Fountain Hills, Ariz., UNT president from 2000 to 2006, died May 12. He was a longtime university administrator and was most recently the chief academic officer at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in Arizona. At UNT, he was executive vice president and provost for nearly two years before serving as the 13th president. He oversaw the creation of what is now known as Discovery Park, UNT's nearly 290-acre research park, and helped establish the College of Engineering. Among the buildings added to the campus during his tenure were the Chemistry Building, the Athletics Center and the Pohl Recreation Center, named in his honor. Pohl spent most of his career in higher education, as both a business professor and administrator. He held several deanships before moving into administration where he ultimately served in the highest post of chancellor.

Claudia Webb Betti Benson, Denton, Professor Emeritus of art who taught at North Texas from 1967 to 1989, died Feb. 14. She earned a graduate degree in painting and drawing from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago and won a fellowship that allowed her to travel and paint in France and Italy. At North Texas, she was coordinator of the basic drawing program, taught the graduate seminar in teaching and was known for inviting students to her home for meals and discussions. She co-wrote a nationally recognized drawing text, Drawing: A Contemporary Approach, and continued to show her paintings and drawings after retiring.

Marvin H. Berkeley, Dallas, Professor Emeritus of management and former dean of the College of Business, died Jan. 6. He served as dean from 1973 to 1983 and continued teaching until 1998. He also founded UNT’s Chief Executives Round Table and served as its director from 1983 to 1993. Berkeley was an officer in the U.S. Navy during World War II and a research psychologist with the U.S. Air Force. He was president of the Dallas school board from 1967 to 1973, when court-ordered integration was initiated, and he was a vice president at Texas Instruments before joining UNT. He received his doctorate in psychology from Washington University. Memorials may be made to the Dean Marvin Berkeley Scholarship Fund at UNT. For more information, call (940) 565-2976 or e-mail paula.voyles@unt.edu.

Fred O. Graham (’57), Denton, served as North Texas’ first sports information director from 1959 to 1981, died Feb. 24. He was instrumental in promoting UNT athletics and some of the most successful teams in school history. He credited his wife, Sidney Sue Smith Graham (’57), with originating the nickname “Mean Green,” which he first used in a press release in reference to the football team’s defensive unit in 1967. He went on to serve as general manager of the Texas Sports Hall of Fame and worked for the Texas Rangers and the Dallas Cowboys. He was inducted into the UNT Athletic Hall of Fame in 1996.

Frank McKinley, Denton, Professor Emeritus of music who taught at North Texas from 1940 to 1942 and from 1947 to 1980, died Oct. 23. “Mr. Mac,” as he was known by his students, held a master’s degree from Westminster Choir College in Princeton and completed his doctoral course work at Indiana University. He joined North Texas as a voice teacher and director of the Chapel Choir. After serving in the U.S. Army during World War II and briefly at Kentucky Wesleyan College, he returned to lead the A Cappella Choir for more than 30 years. The choir concluded its 1964 European tour with a performance at the World’s Fair in New York. In 1978, it became the first collegiate choir to record with the Royal London Philharmonic. Memorials may be made to the Frank McKinley Endowment for Choral Studies at UNT. For more information, call (940) 565-2243 or e-mail elida.tamez@unt.edu.

Col. Richard Esker ‘Jack’ Scott, Vacaville, Calif., professor of aerospace studies and commander of the Air Force ROTC at North Texas from 1968 to 1973, died Jan. 31. He directed the Flight Instruction Program for senior cadets and taught freshman and sophomore training classes. He also attended the university from 1969 to 1976 and taught courses in political science. He flew B-24 bombers over Germany during World War II and, after a brief airline job, rejoined the Air Force. His 30-year Air Force career included several years in the special operations field. After retiring, he worked as an instructor for the Federal Emergency Management Agency in Denton and for various area junior colleges.