Tommy Koonce

Submitted By jev0010 on Wed, 06/25/2014 - 12:00am
Tommy R. Koonce (’59, ’62 M.Ed.), 77, former assistant professor of industrial technology, later renamed engineering technology, died April 1 in Denton. He taught at UNT for 27 years, beginning in 1968 and retiring in 1995. He earned his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in industrial arts and education at North Texas and taught in Dallas public schools before earning his doctorate from the University of Missouri-Columbia. He was a past president of the North Texas Industrial Arts Association and coordinated regional student competitions on campus. He helped construct the ceremonial mace for the 1971 inauguration of President C.C. Nolen, and he was named Texas Industrial Arts Association Distinguished Teacher of the Year in 1980. After retiring, he enjoyed raising cattle on the family ranch, and fishing was a life-long love. He was a charter member of the Denton Area Woodcraftsmen and Artisans Guild, was a member of The Gideons, worked on and co-led Habitat for Humanity projects and was a member of the Associated General Contractors of America.

Tommy R. Koonce (’59, ’62 M.Ed.), 77, former assistant professor of industrial technology, later renamed engineering technology, died April 1 in Denton. He taught at UNT for 27 years, beginning in 1968 and retiring in 1995. He earned his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in industrial arts and education at North Texas and taught in Dallas public schools before earning his doctorate from the University of Missouri-Columbia.

He was a past president of the North Texas Industrial Arts Association and coordinated regional student competitions on campus. He helped construct the ceremonial mace for the 1971 inauguration of President C.C. Nolen, and he was named Texas Industrial Arts Association Distinguished Teacher of the Year in 1980.

After retiring, he enjoyed raising cattle on the family ranch, and fishing was a life-long love. He was a charter member of the Denton Area Woodcraftsmen and Artisans Guild, was a member of The Gideons, worked on and co-led Habitat for Humanity projects and was a member of the Associated General Contractors of America.

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