Cover photo for Wallace Prescott's Obituary
Wallace Prescott Profile Photo
Wallace

Wallace Prescott

d. December 27, 2013

Funeral services for Dr. Wallace Samuel Prescott will be held Saturday, January 4, 2014 at 11:00 a.m. at First Baptist Church Cookeville. Dr. Prescott's family will receive friends Friday evening from 4:30 p.m. until 7:30 p.m. at the Cookeville Chapel of Hooper-Huddleston & Horner Funeral Home and again Saturday from 10 a.m. until service time at the church. Private family interment will take place later at Crest Lawn Cemetery. Dr. Wallace Samuel Prescott passed away December 27, 2013, surrounded by family and friends. He was born on May 8, 1920, in Chattanooga Valley of Walker County, Georgia, to the late Samuel and Roxie Prescott. He was preceded in death by his beloved wife of sixty five years, Margaret Belle Hale Prescott, his sister, Edna Pardue, and his brother, Harold Prescott. Wallace S. Prescott is survived by his two loving daughters, Sara Prescott Hudgens and Marnie Prescott Walsh; sons-in-law, Doug Hudgens and Jack Stahlman; grandchildren, Shawn and wife, Kellie Hudgens and Christopher Hudgens; great grandchildren, Kendall and Harper Hudgens; "son", Thomas Farr; his brother, Bill and wife, Jane Prescott and family; sister-in-law, Patsy Prescott and family; In-laws, Dudley Hale and family, and Ann Hale and family; extended family, Virginia Lee Brown, Becky and David Chaffin, Jim and Linda Brown, Dr. Pete Helton, Roger Folyer, Dorothy McKay, Morgan and Plaxecles Chitiyo, George and Rufaro Chitiyo, Melissa and Wade Scott; and four "furry" grandchildren, Riley, Rhenna, Sassie and Buddy-Kat. Dr. Prescott is a graduate of Chattanooga Valley High School in Georgia; West Georgia Junior College 1940; Tennessee Technological University, B.S. in General Engineering 1946, B.S. in Civil Engineering 1950; University of Tennessee, M.S. in Civil Engineering 1952; University of Illinois, Ph.D. in Civil Engineering 1962; Oklahoma State University, NSF Institute, Post Doctorate,1962. Dr. Prescott's professional career began in 1940, as a Topographical Draftsman with TVA. From 1945-46, he was a Structural Engineer at the Nashville Bridge Company. For several summers, he worked as the senior bridge designer of the Bridge Division of the Tennessee Highway Department. He returned to Tennessee Technological University in 1946 and began a career that would span over forty years. Beginning in 1946, he was an instructor, assistant professor, and professor of General and Civil Engineering. In 1962, he became Dean of Faculties and was in this position for eight years. In 1970, he was appointed as Vice-President and Dean of Faculties and served in this capacity for six years. In 1976, he was appointed to become Provost and Vice-President for Academic Affairs, serving until 1983. In 1985, he was appointed as the Interim President and was in this position until 1987. He was selected to become Interim President at Middle Tennessee State University from 1990-1991. Beyond the academic world, Dr. Prescott was Vice-President for Financial Services for Citizen's Bank from 1983-1985. In addition to his professional career, Dr. Prescott was active in civic and community affairs. He served on the Board of Directors and was past president of the Cookeville/Putnam County Chamber of Commerce; served as a member and past president of the Board of Trustees of the Cookeville General Hospital and the Long Range Planning Committee for Cookeville Regional Medical Center; served as a member of the Board of Directors of Cookeville Citizens Bank; member of Board of Directors and Honorary Director of Union Planters Bank; served as Acting Director for the Upper Cumberland Regional Development Center; was a member, former treasurer, vice-president, president, and Paul Harris Fellow of the Cookeville Rotary Club; was a member, past president, and Melvin Jones Fellow of the Cookeville Lions Club; was a former Assistant Scout Master and Post Advisor of the Senior Boy Scouts of Cookeville and served as Chairman of the Camping and Activities Committee of the Upper Cumberland Boy Scout District and was awarded the Long Rifle and Silver Beaver Awards of the Boy Scouts of America; acted as Chairman of the Long Range Planning Committee for Putnam County Schools; and was a 32nd degree Mason and member of the Al Menah Shrine Temple. Dr. Prescott was an active member of the First Baptist Church of Cookeville where he was a Sunday School teacher, a deacon, and also served and chaired various church committees. He and his wife, Margaret, were co-founders of the Garden Hills First Baptist Church in Champaign, Illinois. He was a supporter of many mission ventures that spanned the world. Dr. Prescott was a member of numerous organizations that included the TEA, NEA, American Society of Civil Engineers, National Society of Professional Engineers, Tennessee Society of Professional Engineers, American Society of Engineering Education. He served on committees for the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, the TN Higher Education Commission and the TN Industrial Research Advisory Service. Multiple honors and awards were bestowed upon Dr. Prescott. He was listed in Who's Who in America; was a National Science Foundation Faculty Fellow; an outstanding Alumnus of Tennessee Tech; a Member of Order of the Engineer, Engineer of Distinction of Tennessee Technological University; a recipient of the Outstanding Civilian Service Award- Department of the Army; Founder's Award- West Georgia College; Honorary State Farmer, FFA; Honorary Kentucky Colonel; and numerous honorary society memberships that include: Phi Kappa Phi, National Honor Society,Tau Beta Pi, National Engineering Honor Society, Chi Epsilon, National Civil Engineering Honor Society, and Phi Delta Kappa. Dr. Prescott also enjoyed life beyond academics and community service. He was a loving husband and devoted family man. Bud was a photographer, golfer, motorcycle enthusiast, airplane pilot, and avid fisherman. He was also an environmentalist who loved the outdoors, the majestic mountains, and the beauty and wonder of nature. Dr. Prescott's legacy is visible in many realms across the county and state, from his designs and structures that include homes, bridges, interstate overpasses, the Putnam County Fairgrounds, and buildings and facilities at Tennessee Tech. The Prescott Hall, Civil Engineering Building at Tech was named in his honor. In 1996, he and wife, Margaret, were honored when the Prescott Central Middle School was named in their honor. When the school was closed, two new and innovative schools, Prescott South Elementary and Prescott South Middle, were named in their honor for their years of devoted service to education and community service. Honorary Pall Bearers include the Fellowship Sunday School Class, the noonday Rotary Club and the Evening Lions Club. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to TTU - Wallace and Margaret Prescott Scholarship Fund, Prescott/Brown Legacy Endowment; Prescott South Elementary and Middle Schools; or First Baptist Church.

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Service Schedule

Past Services

Visitation

Saturday, January 4, 2014

10:00 - 11:00 am (Central time)

First Baptist Church Cookeville

18 South Walnut Avenue, Cookeville, TN 38501

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Service

Saturday, January 4, 2014

Starts at 11:00 am (Central time)

First Baptist Church Cookeville

18 South Walnut Avenue, Cookeville, TN 38501

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