Gene Austin Dodson's Obituary
Gene Austin Dodson, 86, passed away on December 31, 2015, surrounded by his family. Gene was born the only child of Leonard and Jewell Dodson of Beulah, Kentucky, on November 29, 1929. He married Frances Robertson of Bardwell, Kentucky. He is survived by his wife of 65 years, four sons: Gregory (Karen), Keenan (Mona), Kevin (Lynda) and Kenneth (Julie); ten grandchildren: Julie Turner (Ty), Brian, Sarah Sides (Jeff), Kelly Grubbs (Danny), Will, Devin (Holly), Dena Davis (Matt), Davis (Allie), Brandon (Rebecca), and Deanna Weaver (John); and six great-grandchildren: Kaleb, Luke, Jonah, Milly, Riley and Daniel.After graduating from Milburn High School in Milburn, Kentucky, Mr. Dodson attended Murray State University before working in the Engineering Division on the Atomic Energy Project at Paducah. He then served in the U.S. Army during the Korean conflict and after his discharge entered The University of Alabama where he received a degree in Civil Engineering in 1957 as the Alabama Road Builders Civil Engineering Honor Graduate of the Year.Mr. Dodson started his professional engineering career with the Kentucky Department of Highways as a Design Engineer in the Bridge Division. He then joined the Memphis District of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in 1959. At the Corps of Engineers, Mr. Dodson worked in a series of increasingly important positions and achieved his Master of Science degree in Civil Engineering from Memphis State University in 1969. He was named Chief of the Engineering Division in 1972 – the position from which he retired in 1994 after serving the longest of any active Chief of Engineering at that time. He received numerous awards from the Corps including the Department of the Army Meritorious Civilian Service Award and Memphis District Gallery of Distinguished Civilian Employees.He served on the advisory board of the Herff College of Engineering, was named an Outstanding Engineer of the Year by the Memphis Joint Engineers Council and was a life member and Distinguished Engineering Fellow with the American Society of Civil Engineers. He was appointed a Department of Civil Engineering Outstanding Fellow and a Distinguished Engineering Fellow by The University of Alabama in 1992. He was a member of Tau Beta Pi honor society, Chi Epsilon, Military Engineers and a life member of the Engineers’ Club of Memphis.Mr. Dodson was an ordained Baptist deacon and taught Sunday School continually throughout his life beginning in his teens at his home church, Beulah Baptist in Hickman County, Kentucky. He served his church, nation and community with honor, dignity and professionalism.Visitation will be Tuesday, January 5, from 1 to 2 p.m. at Cherry Road Baptist Church, 1421 Cherry Road, Memphis, with services to follow at 2 p.m. A graveside service will be held at 11 a.m. Wednesday, January 6, at the Beulah Community Cemetery, 8039 State Highway 307, Fancy Farm, Kentucky. Remembrances may be sent to Beulah Cemetery c/o Donald Courtney, 630 State Route 1748, Fancy Farm, KY 42039.Arrangements have been entrusted to Memorial Park Funeral Home and Cemetery. “Celebrating Life… Behind the Stone Wall”
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