Dr. Ernest Carl Houck 
BLACKSBURG, VA I Dr. Ernest Carl Houck, age 61, of Blacksburg, Virginia, passed away on Monday, May 22, 2006. He was the son of Roger Lee and Kathleen Mettie Houck (both deceased) of Tuscaloosa, Alabama.  Ernie was born in Springfield, Ohio, and grew up in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. As a young man, he excelled in sports and was a member of his high school's undefeated state championship basketball team. Subsequently, he was recruited to play basketball for the University of Alabama where he earned a B.S. degree in Mechanical Engineering in 1967 and a Master of Science in Industrial Engineering in 1969. After moving to Blacksburg in 1969, he received a M.S. and Ph.D. in Statistics from Virginia Tech. In 1972, he joined the faculty of the College of Business at Virginia Tech, and in 1995, he was appointed to the R.B. Pamplin (endowed) Professorship of Management Science. Ernie served as Director of the Master of Business Administration Program in the College of Business from 1978 to 1982, and from 1983 to the present, he was Director of Graduate Programs in the Department of Business Information Technology. Ernie was well-known throughout his career at Virginia Tech as an outstanding educator and scholar. He received the College of Business Certificate of Teaching Excellence on three occasions. In 1976, he was the first faculty member from the College of Business elected to the University Academy of Teaching Excellence, and in 1977, he was the Pamplin College's first recipient of the University's prestigious W.E. Wine (Teaching) Award. In 2002, he received the Pamplin College's Doctoral Teaching Award. Ernie was the author of numerous research articles published in leading academic journals in the fields of statistics and business. In 1994, in recognition of his career achievements in research, teaching, and service to his profession, he was selected as a Fellow of the Decision Sciences Institute. Beloved by his family and friends, Ernie was a loving husband and father. Although he had many interests, he especially enjoyed the game of golf and the tranquil hours he spent on the Blacksburg Country Club course. He always looked forward to special evenings with friends and dancing. A good man, a good friend, and a good colleague, he was loved, admired, and respected by all who knew him. Ernie is survived by his wife of forty-one years, Cherry Kendrick Houck; their son, Ernest Scott Houck and his wife, Heather Lynn of Alexandria, Virginia; two grandchildren, Austin Kendrick and Ashley Elizabeth Houck; one brother, David Jeffrey Houck and his wife, Freida Nan of Taft, Tennessee; one sister, Rose Mary Spradley and her husband, Clarence Victor of Petersburg, Virginia.  A Memorial Service will be held on Saturday, June 3, 2006, at 11:00 A.M. at the Christ Episcopal Church, 120 Church Street in Blacksburg, Virginia. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to fund cancer research at the Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center in his memory. For more information, please call 919-966-5905 or visit their website at http://www.unclineberger.org/gift/gift.asp.   
Article published May 28, 2006.