William David Jackson, PhD.
May 20, 1927 – May 13, 2016
Passed away peacefully of natural causes at home in Tullahoma, Tn on May
13, 2016. Dr. Jackson first moved to Tullahoma in the early 1970’s as a
Professor of Electric Engineering and Program Director in the Energy
Conversion Division at UTSI. As a principle participant in the development
of Magnetohydrodynamic Power Generation he was recognized for the promotion
of international cooperation in energy research and development. He was a
founding member of the International Liaison Group on Magnetohydrodynamics.
Dr. Jackson came to the United States in 1955 as a Fulbright Scholar at the
Massachusetts Institute of Technology in Boston, after beginning his
teaching career at the University of Manchester, UK. He joined the faculty
at MIT in 1957 and went on to teach at the Technical University of Berlin,
University of Illinois, Chicago, George Washington University in DC, and
recently Adjunct Professor at Motlow State College and Tennessee State
University.
He was Director of Education and Principal Research Scientist at
Avco-Everett in Everett, MA, Program Manager at the Electric Power Research
Institute in Palo Alto, CA and Office of Coal Research at the US Department
of Interior and Director of Technical Analysis at the Department of Energy
Office of Energy Research. He was founder and President of the HMJ
Corporation a small business specializing in advanced energy technology
research, development and system analysis.
Designated a Fellow of the Institute of Electrical Engineers (UK), the
Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers, the American Society of
Mechanical Engineers he remained active through his career. He was
involved with the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics
(Energy Systems Award), American Physical Society, American Association for
the Advancement of Science, American Society for Engineering Education,
Fulbright Association, American Association of University Professors,
American Association of Aeronautics and Astronautics, and Sigma Xi. He was
a graduate of the University of Glasgow, Glasgow, Scotland.
A lifelong avid railroader, he was a member the Kennebunkport Trolley
Museum in Maine and the National Trolley Museum in DC. He was active in
the Highland Rim Scottish Society, the Hands on Science Center in
Tullahoma, and the British Embassy Players and Hexagon, Inc. in DC.
Born in Edinburgh, Scotland, he was preceded in death by parents, Joseph
Jackson and Margaret Johnston Jackson. He is survived by children,
Margaret Eleanor Jackson of Boston, MA, David Foster Jackson (Ainsley) of
S. Deerfield, MA. Stepchildren, William Dunbar Dicks, Los Angles, Pauline
Dicks Grossman, Kensington, MD, Josephine Dicks Clark, Oak Ridge,
Tennessee, Agnes Dicks Duncan, Atlanta, Ga and Merrill Dicks, Taos, NM.
Grandchildren, Asa, Cal and William Jackson of S. Deerfield, MA; Emily,
Chloe and Sienna Jackson-Unger of Boston, MA; John and Daniel Grossman,
Kensington, MD; Ashton and Duncan Clark of Oak Ridge, TN, Violet and Eugene
Dicks of Taos, NM and one great-grandson, William Jackson-Unger of Boston,
MA.
A memorial will be held in Washington, DC.
Online condolences may be made at www.davesculbertsonfuneralhome.com