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Heart attack claims dean
Elliott A. Pood, dean of the USM College of Arts and Letters since 2003, died Wednesday at the age of 56.
Early
reports suggest Pood suffered a massive heart attack after being rushed
to Wesley Medical Center in Hattiesburg late Wednesday night.
"This
is a sad day for me and the rest of the university community," said USM
president Shelby F. Thames. "We've lost a great colleague and friend
with the passing of Dr. Pood. Our thoughts and prayers are with his
family."
Associate Dean David R. Davies said the effects this will have on College of Arts and Letters are unclear at this time.
"We
are still waiting to see the next step," said Davies. "Right now we are
all still in shock and concerned with other matters."
The university is expected to release a statement concerning funeral arrangements later this evening.
Pood
also served as a professor of speech communication at USM, coming to
Southern Miss from the University of North Alabama, where he was dean
of the College of Arts and Sciences.
He received his Ph.D. inorganizational communication from Florida State University and held a
master's in communication from The University of Central Florida as
well as bachelor's in communication from West Georgia College.
Early
on, Pood worked at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro where
he served as the director of the Institute for Communication Research
and Consulting. Later, he became director of the Broadcasting/Cinema
Division at UNCG.
Pood was also a special effects explosives
specialist, working with both military and civilian air show acts
across the country. As the primary author of the international safety
manual for use of pyrotechnics at air shows around the world, he also
served as chairman of the International Pyrotechnic Safety Committee
for the International Council of Airshows.
Originally published in The Student Printz on January 18, 2007
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