HomeMy WebLinkAboutPulley, Paul Eugene 11.14. 1924 -07.29.2005, Obituaryyaa4 7 e " 0 ") A& Y
November 14, 1924 — July 29, 2005
Dr. Gene Pulley passed away Friday, July 29th at the
Sheridan on Anderson Nursing Home in College Station
with his wife and family members by his side.
He was born in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma and grew up
loving the great outdoors, developing an affinity for hunting
and fishing that continued throughout his life. At age 13,
Gene lost most of his sight in a hunting accident, marking
a turning point in his life as he began to accomplish things
that most would have thought entirely unattainable, even
In high school, he mastered his classroom lessons with the help of a devoted classmate
who read the textbooks to him each day. While Gene excelled in academics, he also was
a natural musical talent. He served as drum major of the military band at Classen High
School in Oklahoma City, while at the same time playing tenor sax in the Oklahoma
City Symphony.
Gene was a true patriot In lieu of being able to participate in military service due to
his eyesight limitations, he worked at an ordnance plant all through high school.
Gene loved the intellectual challenges of mathematics and engineering. While still
an undergraduate, Gene was asked to teach graduate classes in applied mathematics at
Oklahoma State University. He was legendary as an instructor for filling the blackboards
with complex mathematical formulas in one class and then being able to reproduce the
full blackboard's contents at the next class, entirely from memory. Having received his
initial degrees in applied mathematics, he ultimately achieved his doctorate in statistics.
Throughout his career, his research and teaching included the academic areas of
entomology, biostatistics, and computer science. One of his greatest joys was solving
the complex formulas required to design the Houston Astrodome. Gene was also one
of the researchers to install the first supercomputer in the southwest at Oklahoma State
University.
Gene retired from Texas A &M University after 38 years of teaching and research in
the Departments of Industrial Engineering and Entomology. He delighted in serving on
the doctoral committees of many Aggies and enjoyed the collaboration with numerous
talented faculty members there.
Gene was proud of his many years'membership in the College Station Noon Lions
Club. He enjoyed attending the DMA (Don't Mention Age) Group meetings of A &M
United Methodist Church. His dual love of music and science was passed on to his
children, with each earning advanced degrees, Paul and Janene in the sciences and Emily
in music. He loved hearing Emily perform in concerts and operas across the United
States and was an enthusiastic supporter of his granddaughters' many activities as well.
Gene's hobbies centered around anything mechanical. It was not an unusual sight to
find cars in various state of disassembly on his driveway and he was extremely proud
of his custom - built, supercharged 1958 Ford. His love of firearms continued despite
his childhood accident, and he enjoyed teaching gun safety and marksmanship to his
children and grandchildren.
He greatly enjoyed deep -sea fishing, ultimately acquiring his own saltwater boat
despite being unable to pilot it, just to increase the likelihood of being able to go.
He loved listening to books on tape, especially on historical subjects and anything
concerning ships. As an 80th birthday gift from his children, Gene flew a vintage 1940s
T -6 trainer airplane in San Marcos, and repeated some of the acrobatic maneuvers he d
done 60 years prior.
Gene was preceded in death by his parents, Paul Eugene and Nell Rose Gram Pulley,
and his sister Anna Frances Dougan. Survivors include his wife of 47 years, Jane
Hawkins Pulley of College Station, a son, Paul Winfred Pulley and wife Tina of Round
Rock, Texas, daughter Janene Elizabeth and husband Bruce Fowler of Oak Ridge North,
Texas, and daughter Emily Ann Pulley, of New York City.
Surviving granddaughters include Marissa Janelle, Louisa Elizabeth, and Rebecca
Annelyse Pulley of Round Rock and Kasey Jane and Lori Elizabeth Fowler of Oak Ridge
North, Texas.
The family will greet visitors on Tuesday, August 2nd from 6:00 — 8:00 pm at the
Memorial Funeral Chapel of College Station, 2901 Texas Avenue South.
A memorial celebration of Gene's life will be held Saturday, August 13th at 2:00 pm
at A &M United Methodist Church, 417 University Drive in College Station. The Revs.
Kip Gilts, Gene Lovering, and Bob Waters will officiate.
Donations may be made to the Dr. Gene Pulley Texas Lions Camp memorial fund c/o
College Station Noon Lions Club, PO Box 112, College Station, TX 77841.
1teworial Funeral Chapel • College Station, Texas • 979.694.8615
without his handicap.