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Joseph "Joe" Autry '42 March 25, 2014 8:59 AM
Lacy Funeral Home obituary
Color photo published with obituary. Black & white photo sent by daughter.
Dr. Joseph W. Autry
Service Information
Time, Day, Date: 10 a.m., Friday, September 30, 2005
Place: First Baptist Church
Officiating: Dr. Dan Murray
Disposition: West End Cemetery
Visitation: 6 - 8 p.m. Thursday, September 29, 2005, at Lacy Funeral Home.
Dr. Autry, 85, of Stephenville, died Tuesday, September 27, 2005 at home.
Dr. Autry was born to Malco & Edith (Parker) Autry on December 13, 1919, at Blanket, Texas. He married Jessie Glyn Pruett on March 31, 1946, at Stephenville, TX.
He was a graduate of Stephenville High School and John Tarleton Agricultural College (Tarleton State University). He received his B. S. Degree from Texas A&M University, M. S. Degree from Oklahoma State University, and his Ph. D. from Texas A&M University.
From 1942 until 1946 he served as a commissioned officer in the United States Navy on duty in the south and southwest Pacific areas. He was awarded five battle stars.
After leaving the service, Dr. Autry worked one year with his father-in-law in the farm equipment business in Stephenville. In 1947 he was appointed Associate Professor of Agricultural Engineering at Tarleton, which began a 33 ý year career at the Stephenville University.
Following his 1947 Tarleton appointment as an associate professor, he attended Oklahoma State University as a Graduate Fellow in 1949-1950. In 1951 he was appointed head of the Department of Agriculture at TSU, a position he held 16 years.
After two years as a Doctoral student and a Graduate Fellow at Texas A&M University, he returned to his former position at TSU in 1969.
In 1971, Dr. Autry was appointed to the newly-created position of Vice President and Dean of Instruction at TSU. He held this position until 1973 when the title was changed to Vice President of the University. Dr. Autry retired in 1980; however, he continued his association with Tarleton several years as a part-time faculty member in the Department of Business Administration.
Dr. Autry was a registered professional engineer and was a member of numerous business and professional organizations. He was President of the Stephenville Chamber of Commerce, President of the Lions Club, director of the Tarleton Alumni Association, ex-officio member of the Tarleton Development Foundation board, President of the Stephenville Girl Scout Association, and a director of the Heart of Texas Council of the Girl Scouts.
Dr. Autry has been listed in the Community Leaders of America and Outstanding Educators of America. He served on the board of trustees of Mary Hardin-Baylor University, and he was author of many articles for professional publications.
The Tarleton Alumni Association honored Dr. Autry as Distinguished Faculty Member in 1982, and the Texas A&M University Board of Regents awarded him the distinction of Vice President Emeritus in 1984.
More than 200 friends and family members attended his retirement reception in 1980. Following comments by several dignitaries, Dr. Autry said with a typical grin, ýI want to compliment myselfýI take great pride in looking about me and seeing the many students who have gone on to become successful in their chosen fields, and Iým proud that I had an opportunity to work with them.ý
In 1998, Dr. Autry realized the ýhighlight of his professional dreamsý when a capacity crowd of family and friends attended a ceremony naming the agriculture building at Tarleton the ýJoe W. Autry Agriculture Buildingý. Autry helped dedicate the building when it was first constructed in 1951.
Dr. Autry was a member of the First Baptist Church and had served as deacon, Sunday school teacher, and chairman of various church committees.
Following retirement, Dr. Autry was active in local and state teacher retirement organizations, and spent many hours perfecting his golf game.
Survivors include his wife, Jessie Glyn of Stephenville; two daughters, Melinda Slawson of Stephenville and Julie Burket of Cypress; six grandchildren; three great-grandchildren; and a brother, Aaron of Corpus Christi.
Color photo published with obituary. Black & white photo sent by daughter.
Dr. Joseph W. Autry
Service Information
Time, Day, Date: 10 a.m., Friday, September 30, 2005
Place: First Baptist Church
Officiating: Dr. Dan Murray
Disposition: West End Cemetery
Visitation: 6 - 8 p.m. Thursday, September 29, 2005, at Lacy Funeral Home.
Dr. Autry, 85, of Stephenville, died Tuesday, September 27, 2005 at home.
Dr. Autry was born to Malco & Edith (Parker) Autry on December 13, 1919, at Blanket, Texas. He married Jessie Glyn Pruett on March 31, 1946, at Stephenville, TX.
He was a graduate of Stephenville High School and John Tarleton Agricultural College (Tarleton State University). He received his B. S. Degree from Texas A&M University, M. S. Degree from Oklahoma State University, and his Ph. D. from Texas A&M University.
From 1942 until 1946 he served as a commissioned officer in the United States Navy on duty in the south and southwest Pacific areas. He was awarded five battle stars.
After leaving the service, Dr. Autry worked one year with his father-in-law in the farm equipment business in Stephenville. In 1947 he was appointed Associate Professor of Agricultural Engineering at Tarleton, which began a 33 ý year career at the Stephenville University.
Following his 1947 Tarleton appointment as an associate professor, he attended Oklahoma State University as a Graduate Fellow in 1949-1950. In 1951 he was appointed head of the Department of Agriculture at TSU, a position he held 16 years.
After two years as a Doctoral student and a Graduate Fellow at Texas A&M University, he returned to his former position at TSU in 1969.
In 1971, Dr. Autry was appointed to the newly-created position of Vice President and Dean of Instruction at TSU. He held this position until 1973 when the title was changed to Vice President of the University. Dr. Autry retired in 1980; however, he continued his association with Tarleton several years as a part-time faculty member in the Department of Business Administration.
Dr. Autry was a registered professional engineer and was a member of numerous business and professional organizations. He was President of the Stephenville Chamber of Commerce, President of the Lions Club, director of the Tarleton Alumni Association, ex-officio member of the Tarleton Development Foundation board, President of the Stephenville Girl Scout Association, and a director of the Heart of Texas Council of the Girl Scouts.
Dr. Autry has been listed in the Community Leaders of America and Outstanding Educators of America. He served on the board of trustees of Mary Hardin-Baylor University, and he was author of many articles for professional publications.
The Tarleton Alumni Association honored Dr. Autry as Distinguished Faculty Member in 1982, and the Texas A&M University Board of Regents awarded him the distinction of Vice President Emeritus in 1984.
More than 200 friends and family members attended his retirement reception in 1980. Following comments by several dignitaries, Dr. Autry said with a typical grin, ýI want to compliment myselfýI take great pride in looking about me and seeing the many students who have gone on to become successful in their chosen fields, and Iým proud that I had an opportunity to work with them.ý
In 1998, Dr. Autry realized the ýhighlight of his professional dreamsý when a capacity crowd of family and friends attended a ceremony naming the agriculture building at Tarleton the ýJoe W. Autry Agriculture Buildingý. Autry helped dedicate the building when it was first constructed in 1951.
Dr. Autry was a member of the First Baptist Church and had served as deacon, Sunday school teacher, and chairman of various church committees.
Following retirement, Dr. Autry was active in local and state teacher retirement organizations, and spent many hours perfecting his golf game.
Survivors include his wife, Jessie Glyn of Stephenville; two daughters, Melinda Slawson of Stephenville and Julie Burket of Cypress; six grandchildren; three great-grandchildren; and a brother, Aaron of Corpus Christi.
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