Luther Paden Neeley, 88, Denton, Professor Emeritus of accounting and founding director of the Professional Development Institute, died May 31. A native of Arkansas, he earned his bachelor’s degree in accounting at Arkansas State University and was a Distinguished Military Graduate of its ROTC program. He served in the National Guard and on active duty during the Berlin crisis. He then went on to earn an M.B.A. at the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville and became the first person to earn a Ph.D. in accounting there. He joined the business faculty at UNT in 1960 and became a pillar of what is now the G. Brint Ryan College of Business. During his more than 40 years with the university, he was recognized for excellence as an educator and wrote numerous accounting textbooks and other materials. He was named a Faculty All-Star Teacher in 1967 and an Outstanding Professor in the business college in 1975. From 1973 to 1999, he served as the founding director of PDI, a not-for-profit education corporation specializing in continuing education and certification for business professionals. He also served as a vice president for the American Institute of CPAs. He was a member of the Chilton Society and received UNT’s Honorary Alumnus Award in 2002 for his outstanding devotion, service and support to the university. Former students established The Paden Neeley Professorship for Teaching Excellence in Accounting at UNT in 2006 as a testament to his lasting impact. A longtime deacon, he was active in churches in Denton for decades, and was known as “Doc” to his grandchildren and many friends. A funeral service is set for 2 p.m. June 4 at St. Andrew Presbyterian Church, 300 W. Oak St. in Denton. A graveside service will take place at 11 a.m. June 6 at Wiles Cemetery in Ash Flat, Arkansas.