Retired professor Gordon K. Haist, 93, of Beaufort, S.C., died Jan. 16 in Beaufort Memorial Hospital. He was a professor of English at Rose-Hulman for 29 years from 1946 to 1975, where he also chaired the Department of Humanities and Social Sciences and served as adviser to the Modulus yearbook. His wife, Dorothy Elizabeth Haist, died earlier. Survivors include one son, Gordon K. Haist Jr., of Beaufort; one daughter, Brenda Elizabeth MacLeod of Isle of Lewis, Scotland; and two grandchildren. He graduated with a bachelor of arts degree in English from North Central College in Naperville, Ill., in 1932 and received his master of arts degree from Northwestern University in Evanston, Ill. He studied general semantics under its founder, Alfred Korzybski, and was a founding member of the International Society for General Semantics. He occasionally served as a communication consultant to industry and co-founded the Naperville Sun newspaper. He was a past president of the Pen and Brush Club of Terre Haute. He was a resident of Beaufort for 23 years and served as a longtime volunteer at the Beaufort County Library.

Jess R. Lucas

Jess Lucas, Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology's vice president of student affairs and dean of students for 26 years, died Feb. 5, at his home in Terre Haute. He was a familiar figure in leading seniors on their final walk through campus on commencement day, bowling in student leagues, and advocating student community service and volunteerism.

"Dr. Lucas always put Rose-Hulman students first," emphasized Rose-Hulman President Samuel Hulbert. "Jess was an outstanding representative and advocate for students and their concerns, continuously challenging institute leaders to make decisions that were in the best interest of the students. Jess' death is a sad day for Rose-Hulman."

Lucas, 65, retired in 2000 after serving on the Rose-Hulman staff since 1968. He was vice president of student affairs and dean of students from 1975 to 2000, supervising residence hall and student life programs, financial aid, student counseling, campus security, career services and employer relations, intercollegiate athletics, and international student services.

Before being vice president and dean, Lucas was associate dean of students (1972-75), director of counseling (1968-72) and associate professor of psychology (1968-75). During much of his professional life, Rose-Hulman's residence halls were "home" for Jess, his wife Gwynne, and their three children.

"The thousands of students that Jess Lucas touched have lost a great friend," stated Pete Gustafson, who replaced Lucas as Rose-Hulman's vice president and dean of students. "His leadership helped to make Rose-Hulman the caring place that it is. Personally, I will deeply miss him. I was honored to work with Jess for 23 years. He was my friend, my mentor, and a true role model."

Lucas was a member of National Association of Student Personnel Administrators, American College Personnel Association and American Association for Counseling and Development.

Active in civic affairs, Lucas earned a volunteer award in 1990 for his service as a board member and president of the Mental Health Association in Vigo County. He was also a former board member of the Wabash Valley United Way and Goodwill Industries, and was a former president of the South Vermillion Community School Corporation's Board of Trustees.

Survivors include his wife, Gwynne; one son, Eric Lucas (Class of ’84) and his wife, Kim of Laguna Beach, Calif.; two daughters, Angela Harrell of Evansville and Jesolyni Lucas of Bloomington; one sister, Vada Coker; three brothers, Arlie Ray Lucas, Robert and Hughlene Lucas and Jack and Marge Lucas; and three grandchildren.

Charles C. Rogers

Retired electrical engineering professor and department chair Charles C. Rogers, 72, of Terre Haute died Jan. 17 in Union Hospital. He married Marjorie Anderson on Feb. 28, 1954, and she survives. Survivors also include one son and daughter-in-law, Charles and Julie Rogers of New Palestine; two daughters, Cheryl Rogers of Terre Haute and Sandi K. Gregory and her husband Brad of Plainfield; one brother, Robert Rogers and his wife Nancy of Crawfordsville; one sister, Sallie Taylor and her husband Jim of Denver; and six grandchildren. He was a 1960 graduate of Purdue University, where he received his doctorate.  He joined the Rose faculty in 1961.  He was named an Outstanding Educator of Americn in 1971, and he served on the national board of directors of Eta Kappa Nu, the national honor society for electrical engineers., where he received his doctorate, and formerly owned Flowerama Flower Shop. He served as a lieutenant in the Air Force and was a member of Maryland Community Church.