The Daily Gamecock

Former Dean of Engineering dies at 85

Former USC Dean of Engineering Roger A. Holmes died Friday in Dublin, Ohio. Dr. Holmes was 85 years old.

An undergraduate alumnus of the Coast Guard Academy, Holmes obtained graduate and doctorate degrees from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Purdue University, respectively, following an honorable discharge from the American military. In 1970, he came to Columbia as USC’s Dean of Engineering. He would hold that position for seven years, simultaneously leading a NASA working group focusing on agricultural remote sensing.

In later life, Holmes dedicated his time to teaching technology classes for senior citizens in Dublin and serving as a board member for two charter schools in the Columbus, Ohio, area. An avid traveler, Holmes spent summers with family on the beaches of the Carolinas.

Holmes is survived by, among others, his wife of 62 years, Esther Bender Holmes, three daughters and one brother.

A celebration of Holmes’ life is scheduled for the afternoon of July 16 at the Dublin Community Center. His family has requested that any memorial contributions be directed to the American Cancer Society.


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