Professor was first UT geography chairman

10/19/2006

LAMBERTVILLE - Byron E. Emery, 77, professor emeritus of geography at the University of Toledo and the founding chairman of UT's geography department, died Sunday in Sunset Village, Sylvania, from complications of Parkinson's disease.

Mr. Emery retired from UT in 1986 after 23 years. Before that, he taught geography at Eastern Michigan University for a time.

In 1963, Mr. Emery became UT's first chairman of the geography department, which he headed until 1970. He had a full professorship since 1969.

In 1971, Mr. Emery became the director of the newly created University College, which he headed for three years before returning to teaching geography at UT.

"Byron loved to teach," his wife of nearly 32 years, Kathy Emery, said.

A native of Kittery Point, Maine, Mr. Emery graduated from Traip Academy there in 1946. Later that year, he enlisted in the Army and served in Japan until his honorable discharge in 1949.

After the service, Mr. Emery attended the University of Hawaii, graduating with bachelor's and master's degrees, both in geography. He later got his doctorate in geography from the University of Michigan before coming to the University of Toledo.

In retirement, he bred registered Morgan horses for dressage and carriage driving.

Surviving are his wife, Kathy; son, Earl; daughter, Norma Springer; brother, Robert; sisters, Mary Seward and Alice Emery, and two grandchildren.

A memorial service will be at 11 a.m. tomorrow in the Thomas I. Wisniewski Funeral Home, where visitation will be after

9 a.m. tomorrow.

The family suggest tributes to Horses' Haven, Howell, Mich.; Sunset Village's life or employee funds, or a charity of the donor's choice.