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NEWS
| October 8, 2003
Engineering
Former long-time professor dies
Stephen Underwood began his career
here 27 years ago and stopped teaching in 2002.
By Amber
Tafoya
The Shorthorn news editor
Former computer science and engineering professor Stephen Underwood
died from pancreatic cancer Saturday. He was 67.
Dr. Underwood began his career at the university as a professor
in the Computer Science and Engineering Department in 1975. He stopped
teaching last year.
Underwood found his passion in engineering through his father, his
widow said.
They shared an interest in Ham radio and electronics, said Carole
Underwood of Arlington. His father was a medical doctor who wanted
to be an engineer, and Underwood was an electrical engineer who
wanted to be a doctor.
Underwood retired from the university in 1991. In 1994, he continued
research projects here, funded by the Texas Department of Transportation,
until 2002. He contributed to research projects that helped change
how road conditions are measured for safety purposes by developing
systems that use laser scanners.
Roger Walker, computer science and engineering professor, said he
hired Underwood in 1975 because he considered him a circuitry wizard.
“He was pretty much a genius in hardware, extremely well-liked
and a very warm individual we will all certainly miss,” the
former friend and colleague said.
Walker said Underwood was part of the original Computer Science
and Engineering team that helped set the program apart from engineering.
“He helped formulate the department and helped in his progression
to where we are today,” he said.
As much as Underwood worked hard to help expand the program, though,
his wife said he had another passion — racing sailboats.
His great-great-grandfather, after all, was an English sea captain.
“It took him six years to get his Ph.D. in Austin because
he went racing every weekend,” she said.
But once he moved to Arlington, he concentrated on his relationship
with her and his work, she said, and forgot about sailing for a
while. Two years ago, though, he bought a boat and joined the Arlington
Yacht Club.
“Maybe it’s in his blood, like engineering was,”
she said.
Underwood was born and grew up in Lincoln, Neb., and received a
bachelor’s of science degree at the University of Nebraska.
He went on to receive his master’s degree at Southern Methodist
University in Dallas and a doctorate in engineering at UT-Austin.
He never had children but is survived by his brother Warren Underwood
of Boulder, Colo.
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Memorial
Service
When: 7 p.m. Thursday
Where: Unity Church of Arlington, 3325
South Bowen Road
Donations to the Stephen A. Underwood Memorial
Scholarship fund can be sent to P.O. Box 19019,
Arlington, Texas, 76019. Funds will go to engineering
students.
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| Stephen
Underwood, a former computer science and engineering
professor, died Saturday of cancer.
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