William J. Bardin, 96, Feb. 13, in Arlington. Mr. Bardin, often described as an icon of Arlington history, graduated from North Texas Agricultural College (now UTA) in 1926. A civil engineer and construction superintendent, he grew up in Arlington and was known for his devotion to historical preservation. He was born in 1905, early enough to meet several notables from the early 20th century, including Clyde Barrow (of Bonnie and Clyde infamy) and Clark Gable, who sometimes frequented the local horse racing track, Arlington Downs. Mr. Bardin worked diligently to preserve the city's heritage, particularly the Col. Middleton Tate Johnson Plantation Cemetery.

Thomas Blackwell, 41, Jan. 16, in Grundy, Va. Mr. Blackwell graduated from UTA in 1982 with a bachelor's degree in mathematicsÑwith honors. He later earned degrees in history and law and went on to teach at the Appalachian School of Law. He was an associate professor, teaching contracts, intellectual property, the law office management practicum and legal process. He was a member of MENSA, ISPE, the Rotary Club of Grundy and Buchanan First Presbyterian Church in Grundy.

Donald Deere, 76, April 17, in Dallas. Mr. Deere served as UTA's head golf coach for 16 years and taught in the Department of Kinesiology for more than two decades. He spent 27 years as an engineer for Vought Aerospace Corp. before coming to UTA in 1977. He was a graduate of Texas A&M University, where he lettered in football and track, and was a longtime member of First United Methodist Church in Arlington.

Leonard D. Deere, 81, Jan. 16. Mr. Deere attended North Texas Agricultural College (now UTA) in the 1930s and was a member of the UTA Century Club. He went on to earn a bachelor's degree in aeronautical engineering at Texas A&M University. From June 1940 to October 1945, he served as a civilian engineer at the U.S. Army Air Corps San Antonio Air Depot. He later worked for Dow Chemical in Freeport and was active in Brazosport and Brazoria County civic affairs.

George Fix, 62, March 10, in Clemson, S.C. Dr. Fix was a former UTA professor and chairman of the Mathematics Department. At the time of his death, he was chairman of the Mathematics Department at Clemson University. He taught at UTA from 1986 to 1999.

Luther Guy Hagard, Jr., 78, Dec. 23, in Arlington. A retired political science professor, Dr. Hagard taught at UTA for more than 30 years, beginning in 1960 in the History and Government Department at Arlington State College. He was instrumental in forming the Political Science Department and played a key role in establishing both the School of Urban and Public Affairs and the Criminology and Criminal Justice Department. He received the prestigious Piper Professor Award from the Minnie Stevens Piper Foundation in 1963 and in 1982 was named an outstanding teacher in the College of Liberal Arts. He served on numerous University committees and co-authored and edited several textbooks. He was selected as a member of the UTA Walk of Fame in 2000, honoring his enduring imprint on the University. He retired in 1997 and was named a professor emeritus in fall 2001.

Tom McMahon, 55, May 3 in Napa, Calif. Mr. McMahon graduated from UTA in 1968 with a bachelor of business administration degree. His varied business career, which included serving as chief financial officer of a Napa Valley winery, culminated with his service as senior vice president of finance and administration with the Pacific Maritime Association. The group represents ship owners, stevedoring and terminal companies at ports in Washington, Oregon and California. Mr. McMahon was a nationally recognized leader in employee benefits and retirement planning, and he served as a director of the Employee Benefit Research Institute, a Washington, D.C.-based think tank. At the time of his death, he was a member of the advisory council for pension and welfare benefit plans for U.S. Labor Secretary Elaine Chao. Along with his wife, fellow UTA graduate Jeannette Coburn, Mr. McMahon established an endowed chair in ethics at the UTA College of Business Administration. The couple also sponsored a successful campus colloquium in media ethics and funded a scholarship program at the University of Washington business school. Mr. McMahon was a longtime supporter of the Big Brothers/Big Sisters organization. During his UTA days, he was a member of Kappa Sigma fraternity and the National Order of Omega, the Greek honor society.

Walter Richard "Dick" Shuttee, 70, Feb. 6, in El Reno, Okla. Dr. Shuttee was a professor of economics at Arlington State College and UTA from 1958 to 1985. He earned his bachelor's and master's degrees in economics at the University of Oklahoma and completed his doctorate at The University of Texas at Austin.

John Symank, 66, Jan. 23, in Dauphin Island, Ala. Mr. Symank played football at Arlington State College (now UTA) in the 1950s before transferring to the University of Florida to complete his bachelor's degree. He graduated from there in 1957 and was selected by the Green Bay Packers in the 23rd round of the NFL draft. He played in Green Bay from 1957 to 1962, finishing his career as a member of Vince Lombardi's first two NFL championship teams. He returned to UTA to coach football in 1971 and coached for three seasons. He later coached at Louisiana State University, where he retired in 1997.

Billie Williamson, 88, April 16, in Arlington. Born to a pioneering family in Arlington, Ms. Williamson earned an associate's degree from North Texas Agricultural College (now UTA) in 1932. She later earned a master's degree from Texas Woman's University. She worked as director of child services for the Dallas school district and taught home economics at Colorado State University and the University of Southern Mississippi. She retired in 1973 after teaching 17 years at Texas Tech University.