George H. Emert

December 15, 1938 - March 21, 2018

George H. Emert

December 15, 1938 - March 21, 2018

Obituary

George H. Emert spent the morning of Wednesday, March 21, 2018 in his Skagit County country home surrounded by family singing his beloved music, then left his body to return to his true HOME. The son of Victor K. Emert and Hazel Emert Ridley, he was born December 15, 1938, on a sharecropper farm at the end of a mule trail in Sevier County, Tennessee. The beginnings of his “schooling” in a one room schoolhouse led to a lifetime love of education that included graduation from Morristown High School in Morristown, Tennessee, in 1956; two years at Lincoln Memorial University from 1956-1958; a Bachelor’s Degree in Zoology, Chemistry, and Mathematics from the University of Colorado in 1962; a Master’s Degree in Zoology from Colorado State University in 1970; a Ph.D. in Biochemistry and Nutrition from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University in 1973; and a post-doctoral fellowship at the University of Colorado in 1974.

At the request of uncles to honor an Emert family tradition of military service during times of war, he joined the U.S. Army in 1963. Green Beret U.S. Special Forces training led to two tours in Vietnam as a member of Alpha Detachment teams. In later years after completing his Ph.D., continued military reserve service involved a mobilization designation assignment as a biological warfare expert and was later followed by membership on the Navy ROTC

Association Advisory Board and Membership (Chair 2000-2002) on the Air University Board of Visitors. Military service awards included an air medal, Bronze Star, Army Commendation, Combat Infantry Badge, American Expeditionary Force Medal, and a Vietnam Service Medal. He was also awarded a Medal of Honor by the Daughters of the American Revolution in 1997.

In Okinawa between tours in Vietnam, he met Billie Marie Bush on a blind date that led to a wedding in Laramie, Wyoming, on June 10, 1967. For the next fifty-plus years they had the gift of sharing pathways and were blessed with four daughters and ten grandchildren who followed.

Professionally, George’s doctoral research involving enzymatically converting biomass into an alternate source of petrochemicals led to a Director of Biochemical Technology position at Gulf Oil Corporation. After five years in industry, his long-range plan of returning to the academic world caused him to take a large donation of laboratory equipment and grant money to the University of Arkansas where he was a Professor of Biochemistry and Director of the Biomass Research Center. In 1984 he was offered the position of Executive Vice President at Auburn University and became an ardent War Eagle fan for the rest of his years.

Similarities in academic programs between Auburn University and Utah State University caused him to accept the position of President of Utah State University when offered in 1992. During his years in Logan, Utah, USU became part of his soul. When he stepped down from the presidency on January 1, 2001, as Professor of Biochemistry and President Emeritus, he found great joy in returning to the classroom to teach chemistry and advise students. He was designated the College of Science Advisor of the Year in 2003. Over the years additional interests include golf, tennis, Masons, American Legion, and VFW; awards include Paul Harris Fellow, Fellow of the American Institute of Chemists, Colorado State University College of Natural Science Alumnus of the Year, Virginia Tech College of Agriculture Alumnus of the Year, Morristown High School Alumnus Hall of Fame, Member of Lincoln Memorial University Educators’ Hall of Fame, and USU Old Main Emeriti Award.

The lure of helping grandchildren precipitated a move to a Bellingham address in Skagit County, Washington, where he found joy in grandsons, friends, his church, playing Tennessee mountain music, a cabin in Wyoming, and tending his land. He is survived by his wife Billie; daughters: Debra Lipp (Eric) of Birmingham, AL; Lanie Taylor (Todd) of Nashville, TN; Laurie Emert of Bellingham, WA; and Jamie Emert (Kyle) of Seattle, WA; and grandchildren: Jessica Zorn, Kelsey Taylor, Steven Lipp, Noah Taylor, Brianna Lipp, Ellie Lipp, Maxwell Gargano, Jacob Gargano, Nicholas Gargano and Sophie Taylor. Memorial contributions may be made in George’s name to Whatcom Hospice House.

A memorial service will be held Saturday March 24, 2018 at 1:00 PM at Allen United Methodist Church (16775 Allen West Rd. Bow, WA 98232).

Memorial Service

  • Date & Time: March 24, 2018 (12:00 AM)
  • Venue: Allen United Methodist Church
  • Location: 16775 Allen West Rd Bow, WA 98232 - (Get Directions)

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34 responses to George H. Emert

  1. Dear Billie and family,
    We are deeply saddened by your loss. We’re grateful we had the privilege to meet George and be a part of your family, even if for a short while. There will be a huge hole in so many lives now. I’m so sorry. We have plans to travel to Seattle sometime this year and hope to get to see and hug you all.

    Jim and Rebecca McDowell

  2. We share in your grief, but also in the life of a life well lived by Uncle George. We celebrate him along with you today as you sing and shout to the Glory of God! We pray Jesus’ sweet peace to surround our family there as you worship Him. We know there is Holy Hallelujah praise being sung in heaven by George, Fred, June, Gene, and Victor as they are reunited! (And many More) The Bible says Jacob was “gathered to his people” when he died and so was Abraham, and Isaac. We know George is gathered to his people today!
    Blessings, Love and Peace today to you all!
    Love, Chris, Cathy and Family,

  3. So sorry to hear about George. He was a great man. I enjoyed our working relationship and friendship when I was Mayor. Logan city and U S U did great things together! Billie you were a perfect first lady to George. Our thoughts and prayers are with you.Billie would like to talk to you some time. My phone number is 435 770 0900
    Darla And Dennis

  4. Ken Gass says:

    To the George Emert Family,
    As a colleague of Laurie’s at PeaceHealth, I had very little contact with the older generation of Emerts, yet I felt like I knew George and Billie Emert from way back – back to their Logan, Utah, Utah State U. days, when George and Billie served from 1992 – 2000 as President and first lady of USU. Our common connection to those years is Betty Slack, a vibrant nearly 91-year old widow of a USU Professor. I have known Betty all my life, going back to my birth in Lincoln, Nebraska just after WWII. My parents and Betty and Neill Slack built their homes and raised their children together from 1946 while teaching at Nebraska Wesleyan. Fast forward nearly 60 years, long-time friends, widow Betty Slack and widower Clint Gass, reunited and spent the next 11 years together until my father’s passing in 2015 at age 95 by Betty’s side in Logan, Utah.

    Betty and her descendants have lived in Logan and been connected to USU since 1963. Over the years that I have visited Betty in Logan, I too have come to appreciate the beauty and uniqueness of Logan, USU, and the Cache Valley region of Northern Utah. Betty was so pleased and proud to have known George and Billie during their years together in Logan. Imagine her surprise to hear that her two friends were heading to the area of Washington State where her “adopted” son Ken Gass lived. She gave me an earful of George and Billie stories!

    Meeting Laurie last fall I heard that grandpa George was no longer joyfully making music or rough-housing with his twin grandsons, yet the three of them enjoyed watching sports together on TV. After a life of many accomplishments, cut short by undeserved health problems, for George to spend his last months surrounded by loved ones was, I am sure, a cherished blessing for everyone.

    Sincerely,
    Ken Gass

  5. Dixie Conner says:

    Billy, my heart is aching for you. What a wonderful life we have all had. George was a rah of sunshine wherever he went. Prayers to you & yours. I am blessed to call you friend.Dixie

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