Dr. Oscar N. Garcia, 88, Professor Emeritus and founding dean of UNT’s College of Engineering, died Oct. 22 in Walpole, Massachusetts.

Born in Havana, Cuba, he was valedictorian of his high school class and was enrolled at the University of Havana when it closed in 1954 due to political unrest. So he went to work at an international telephone communications station and was responsible for radio, microwave and over-the-horizon equipment maintenance and operation. Leaving Cuba in 1959, he earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees in electrical engineering from North Carolina State University.

He worked at IBM before helping to establish the College of Engineering at Old Dominion University in Norfolk, Virginia. Deciding to pursue an academic career, he earned a Ph.D. at the University of Maryland and returned to Old Dominion. He also held positions at the University of South Florida — where he founded the computer science and engineering department — the George Washington University and Wright State University. 

Garcia was named the dean of UNT’s new College of Engineering in 2003, and he organized the existing departments of engineering technology, computer science and materials science under one roof.

As dean, he worked with university and state leadership to open the college at Research Park, now Discovery Park, and established the Center for Advanced Research and Technology with initial funding of $3.1 million from the Army Research Laboratory. Now called the Materials Research Facility, it is one of the nation’s most advanced university research facilities for materials analysis.

He also re-established the construction engineering technology program, created the Department of Electrical Engineering with a $1.5 million award from the National Science Foundation, and established the mechanical and energy engineering degree — the first of its kind in the nation.  

He was known not only for his innovative thinking, but also for putting students first, and through the years he was a mentor to countless students and faculty members. He told the North Texan in 2003 that “getting students to realize what they are capable of” was important to him, as well as the “chance to develop a first-rate engineering school” as his legacy.

Garcia stepped down as dean in 2008 to pursue his research interests in computer architecture, human-computer interaction and quantum computing. He developed and taught interdisciplinary courses and projects involving information theory, coding, cryptography and quantum computing prior to retiring from UNT in 2019.

He earned Fellowship in both the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers and the American Association for the Advancement of Science, was a recipient of the IEEE Third Millenium Medal and served as president of the IEEE Computer Society, which honored him with its Richard E. Merwin Distinguished Service Award in recognition of outstanding contributions to the computer profession.

Memorial gifts may be directed to the Oscar N. Garcia Merit Scholarship at UNT (select “Other” for the fund and type “Oscar Garcia Scholarship” in the comments).

Dr. Teddy Lewis Coe, 82, Professor Emeritus of accounting, died Oct. 5.

He earned bachelor's and master’s degrees in accounting at Baylor University and a Ph.D. in accounting from Texas A&M University. He was on the faculty at Texas A&M University and New York University before joining North Texas in 1980.

At UNT, he served two terms as chair of the accounting department and won the prestigious President’s Award along with a grant to develop the five-year master’s in accounting program. He also was the first recipient of the Horace Brock Endowed Professorship. After his time as department chair, he went on to lead the Institute of Petroleum Accounting at UNT for 15 years before retiring in 2007.

He and his wife, the late Dr. Barbara Coe, a Professor Emerita of business administration who taught marketing at UNT, were members of the Chilton Society, establishing the Ted and Barbara Coe Endowed Opera Scholarship at UNT. Also established in their honor is the Dr. Teddy Coe and Dr. Barbara Coe Endowed Scholarship in Marketing.

Ted had a never-ending love for dogs, including dozens of adopted rescue dogs over the years, and a heart for helping people in their time of need. He also loved traveling the world and enjoyed opera at every opportunity.

A graveside service is scheduled at 10:30 a.m. Monday, Oct. 21, at Rose Lawn Memorial Park in Denton. Contributions in his memory may be made to the Ted and Barbara Coe Endowed Opera Scholarship fund.

Dr. Michael Frank Sayler, 70, former educational psychology faculty member and senior associate dean in the College of Education, died Oct. 5.

He was born in Aberdeen, South Dakota, and was married to his wife, Stephanie, for 47 years. He earned his bachelor’s degree in education from St. John’s University in Collegeville, Minnesota, and taught elementary and middle school-aged children until 1985, when he began work on his master’s and doctoral degrees in educational psychology at Purdue University, specializing in gifted education.

He joined the UNT faculty in 1990, where he taught in the special education doctoral program and later served as associate dean for academic affairs and research in the college. He was a pioneer in online learning and gifted education and was a member of the editorial boards for several journals as well as serving as editor for the Texas Association for the Gifted and Talented for several years. He also built one of the world’s largest online gifted certifications, enrolling more than 250 students from around the world each semester. In 2015, he joined Eastern Michigan University as dean of the College of Education until his retirement in 2021.

He was greatly devoted to his family and church and to serving others. He also enjoyed working with the soil, growing a big garden in every place he lived.

Services were held Oct. 11 in Ann Arbor, Michigan, with burial at Old St. Patrick Church Cemetery.

Dr. James ‘Jim’ Louis Poirot, 79, of Fort Worth, Professor Emeritus of learning technologies who worked at UNT from 1976 to 2014, died Oct. 17.

He earned his bachelor’s and master’s degrees and a Ph.D. in mathematics from Texas Tech University and taught at what was then Southwest Texas State University in San Marcos before accepting a position on the computer science faculty at North Texas. He chaired that department and later served as chair of the computer education and cognitive systems department in the College of Education (now the Department of Learning Technologies in the College of Information). He also was an associate dean of the College of Education and was named a Regents Professor in 2001.

Well-known as a computer education expert, he was the author and co-author of numerous textbooks and founded the Texas Computing Education Association, serving as its first president, and the Texas Center for Educational Technology, which he served as executive director. During his 50-year career in education, he worked with many Texas school districts, and he educated teachers from around the world to find better ways to use technology in their classrooms. He also brought in millions of dollars of grants while at UNT.

He was an avid traveler and founded the Caribbean Educational Computing Conference. He was involved in his church and the Denton community, winning a presidential award along with his wife, Peggy, for their volunteerism, and was a rancher and a Texas Rangers fan.

Memorials may be made to the James L. and Peggy A. Poirot Endowed Scholarship, UNT Division of Advancement, 1155 Union Circle, Box 311250, Denton, Texas 76203.

Mary Denny (’73), a member of the UNT System Board of Regents and a former state representative, died Sept. 14. She majored in education and mathematics and minored in chemistry at UNT, graduating Magna Cum Laude. She had served on the UNT Foundation Board and was appointed to the UNT System Board of Regents by Gov. Greg Abbott in 2018.

During a career focused on public service, she was precinct chair for Denton County for a decade and chairwoman of the Denton County Republican Party from 1983 to 1991. Gov. William P. Clements appointed her to the Texas Committee for the Humanities in 1990. In 1993, she was elected to the Texas House of Representatives and served seven consecutive terms.

A recipient of the Outstanding Texas Legislator Award and Common Cause's 1995 Star of Service Award, she volunteered with numerous community organizations. She was a member of the Denton Benefit League, United Way, Arts Council, City Federation of Women's Clubs and the Current Century Department of Ariel Club. She was a lifetime member of the UNT President's Council, and she also was a board member of the YMCA and numerous other civic associations. 

Memorial donations may be made to The Honorable Mary Craver Denny Scholarship Fund, which supports UNT students in need.

Brent Jones, 71, of Benbrook, who worked at the Texas Academy of Mathematics and Science from 1995 to 2020, died in November 2022.

He was serving as TAMS’ assistant dean of admissions when he retired and previously worked as the academy’s director of admissions and director of scholarships and external affairs. He was known for his brilliant mind, hard work and kindness.

He joined UNT from the UNT Health Science Center, where he served from 1988 to 1995 in positions including minority retention coordinator and assistant director for special opportunities, associate admissions director and director of the Health Careers Opportunities Program.

He always had a curious mind, starting from childhood when he learned that one of John Wilkes Booth’s accomplices in the Lincoln assassination was a woman, Mary Surratt, who became the first woman executed by the U.S. government. This began his hobby of studying 19th century female conspirators and he talked about the subject at TAMS’ 2017 Great Conversations event, selling out his table.

He earned his bachelor’s degree from The Ohio State University and worked as a medical technologist for Rohm & Haas Chemical Co. before attending medical school. When he decided on academia as a career, he earned master’s and doctoral degrees from Texas Christian University.

Kenneth Tyrone Ballom, 56, dean of students at UNT from 1998 to 2008, died Jan. 11.

He came to UNT in 1995, first working as assistant dean of students for three years before being promoted. While at UNT, he also spearheaded the establishment of the volunteer center and served on boards supervising the construction of Sorority Row, the Waranch Tennis Complex and the Pohl Recreation Center.

He had previously worked as an assistant hall director at Western Illinois University and as a counselor and director of Student Support Services at Sauk Valley Community College in Dixon, Illinois.

After his time at UNT, he served as associate vice chancellor and dean of students for the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. He was known for his tireless work and advocacy for students and gave many presentations on finding solutions for them.

He received his bachelor’s degree from Texas A&M University-Commerce and his master’s degree from Western Illinois University, and he had completed all but his dissertation for a doctorate in higher education from UNT.

A Celebration of Life will take place at 2 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 28, in the Jade Ballroom of UNT’s University Union.

Joe Glenn Stewart (’71 Ed.D.), 85, of Denton, who held various high-ranking positions at UNT – including associate director of housing, dean of students and vice president of student affairs – died Dec. 28.

During his years of service at UNT from 1971 to 1998, one of his biggest initiatives came in 1995, when he helped spearhead a one-stop service for students, soon known as the Eagle Student Services Center, that consolidated several enrollment-related support offices into one building.

Dr. Stewart and his late wife, Judy (’84), received UNT’s Continuing Academic and Professional Service Council Award for exemplary service to the university and to the Denton community in 2003 and UNT’s Outstanding Alumni Service Award in 2004. Dr. Stewart also received the College of Education Outstanding Alumnus Award. He was a life member of the UNT Alumni Association, served on the association’s board and was a member of the Mean Green Scholarship Fund.

The Stewarts established The Dr. Joe and Judy Stewart Scholarship in 2001 to provide opportunities for undergraduate students at the university. Dr. Stewart became a member of the Chilton Society in 2018. He received his bachelor’s degree from New Mexico State University and his master’s degree from the University of Texas at El Paso. He was a sports fan and avid traveler.

Martha Fuller Turner Bauguss (’62), 81, a businesswoman who served on UNT’s Board of Regents from 1997 to 2000, died April 8 in Houston. She earned her UNT degree in music and elementary education and met her first husband on a blind date while in school. She worked as a teacher for 15 years – then went into real estate. Known for her endless energy, she opened Turner-Owens Real Estate in 1981 and grew the firm, later renamed Martha Turner Properties, into the largest independent brokerage in Houston with more than $2.3 billion in annual sales. She sold it in 2014 and today it’s known as Martha Turner Sotheby’s International Realty. Martha, who appeared on the first cover of the North Texan when it began its magazine format in 1997, was inducted into the Texas Business Hall of Fame in 2009. She also was active in civic and arts organizations and supported health care, education and women’s causes. She received UNT’s Distinguished Alumni Award in 2005.

Frederick R. Pole, 89, of Denton, who served as a vice president and vice chancellor for UNT for 22 years, died April 19. He was drafted into the U.S. Army as a teenager and rose through the ranks in his 27-year military career, commanding operations around the world and retiring as colonel.

He arrived at North Texas in 1980 as executive assistant to the president and was named vice president for external affairs in 1981 before moving to vice president for administrative affairs in 1982. He took on additional responsibilities in 1999 when he also was appointed vice chancellor for administration for the UNT System, before retiring in 2002. 

Fred oversaw countless construction and renovation projects in his time on campus and supervised areas such as the police department as well as facilities. He also was involved in master planning for the university, with a focus on how UNT would meet the needs of higher education in the future. He and his wife, Barbara, who died in 2020, were members of the Chilton Society, and Fred received an Honorary Alumnus award in 2004.

He was active in his church and community, serving as past chairman of the Denton Chamber of Commerce, Denton County United Way, the Board of Trustees of Denton Community Hospital and the advisory board of Denton YMCA. He also was a member of the Vietnam Veterans of America Chapter 920.

Visitation is from 6 to 8 p.m. Monday, May 16, at Mulkey-Bowles-Montgomery Funeral Home, 705 N. Locust St., Denton. A memorial service for Fred and Barbara is scheduled for 10 a.m. Tuesday, May 17, at Southmont Baptist Church, 2801 Pennsylvania Dr., Denton.