2008 Woodie Awards
Students and faculty mourn the loss of an engineering professor
Katie Broderick
Issue date: 12/2/04 Section: News
- Page 1 of 1
Students and teachers say they will greatly miss Dr. Rick Keyser, who died as a result of a heart attack Nov. 19.
A graduate of UTC, Dr. Keyser joined the College of Engineering and Computer Science in March 2001 as a professor of engineering after 25 years at Tennessee Valley Authority.
He served on the Faculty Senate and the University Admissions Committee.
Dr. Ed McMahon, professor of engineering, said that Dr. Keyser was very influential during his short time as a member of the UTC faculty.
"Dr. Keyser was the head of recruiting for our department," McMahon said. "He had a special relationship with his students, and was able to help many of them find part- or full-time jobs because of his connections in Chattanooga. He even received an outstanding teacher award a few years ago."
"Dr. Keyser had a great ability to relate to people and listen to his friends. He could go and talk to someone in the boiler room or the head of TVA and it didn't matter. His life was fun," McMahon said.
Sonya Smith, Chattanooga senior and a former student of Dr. Keyser, said that Dr. Keyser was a great person as well as a great teacher.
"Dr. Keyser was one of those rare teachers who actually loved his students," Smith said.
"He cared about us in more ways that a normal teacher ever would. If I missed class he would call me and ask if I was okay. He wanted all of us to succeed in any and every way we could.
"I personally considered him more of a friend than a professor. He was always open for us to come to him with whatever problems we wanted his assistance with. He opened his home to us on numerous occasions to take us boating or just barbecue in the yard. He was an awesome man," she said.
Rebecca Shelton, a senior from Columbia, Tenn., added, "I had Dr. Keyser for a statistics class, and I often saw him in the halls afterward. He was always very friendly and helpful. He even offered to get me an internship."
A graduate of UTC, Dr. Keyser joined the College of Engineering and Computer Science in March 2001 as a professor of engineering after 25 years at Tennessee Valley Authority.
He served on the Faculty Senate and the University Admissions Committee.
Dr. Ed McMahon, professor of engineering, said that Dr. Keyser was very influential during his short time as a member of the UTC faculty.
"Dr. Keyser was the head of recruiting for our department," McMahon said. "He had a special relationship with his students, and was able to help many of them find part- or full-time jobs because of his connections in Chattanooga. He even received an outstanding teacher award a few years ago."
"Dr. Keyser had a great ability to relate to people and listen to his friends. He could go and talk to someone in the boiler room or the head of TVA and it didn't matter. His life was fun," McMahon said.
Sonya Smith, Chattanooga senior and a former student of Dr. Keyser, said that Dr. Keyser was a great person as well as a great teacher.
"Dr. Keyser was one of those rare teachers who actually loved his students," Smith said.
"He cared about us in more ways that a normal teacher ever would. If I missed class he would call me and ask if I was okay. He wanted all of us to succeed in any and every way we could.
"I personally considered him more of a friend than a professor. He was always open for us to come to him with whatever problems we wanted his assistance with. He opened his home to us on numerous occasions to take us boating or just barbecue in the yard. He was an awesome man," she said.
Rebecca Shelton, a senior from Columbia, Tenn., added, "I had Dr. Keyser for a statistics class, and I often saw him in the halls afterward. He was always very friendly and helpful. He even offered to get me an internship."
