Baylor Professor Emeritus of Physics and Master Teacher Robert G. Packard passed away Jan. 5 at the age of 94, according to the university. Packard taught at Baylor for nearly six decades.
Services will be held at 2 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 15, at Columbus Avenue Baptist Church, 1300 Columbus Ave. in Waco. A graveside service will be held at 10:30 a.m. Thursday, Jan. 10, at Oakwood Memorial Cemetery in Fordyce, Arkansas.
Packard was designated a Master Teacher in 1990 - the highest honor granted to Baylor faculty members for sustained excellence in teaching. He also has a classroom dedicated to him called the Robert G. Packard Lecture Hall in Marrs McLean Science Building.
Packard retired in 2002, but returned to the university in 2009 to teach his "Packard Physics" class for non-science majors one more time. He was known for his playful personality and unique classroom demonstrations - leading many students to flock to his class.
In 2014, Baylor honored Robert Packard and his wife Joyce's significant contributions to students with the Legendary Mentor Award.
“In more than 50 years as a Baylor faculty member, Bob Packard served tirelessly and cared deeply for our students, and his ‘Packard Physics’ class for non-science majors was an institution,” said Baylor President Linda A. Livingstone, Ph.D. “There is a reason he was honored as a Master Teacher: Bob inspired so many of our students and many children of students who followed their parents to Baylor. Bob and Joyce represent everything that is good about Baylor’s faculty and staff – they are devoted Christians whose faith inspires the way they teach, the way they minister to their students and the way they build deep and lasting relationships that support their students long after they become alumni of this institution. Our prayers are with Joyce and the many former students and friends who loved Bob. We are deeply grateful for Bob’s service and grateful as a University that we were blessed to have his teaching and his influence upon many generations of Baylor students.”
Packard was also a veteran of World War II. He was a graduate from the University of Texas - earning three degrees in physics during his time there.
“We claim all our Baylor students as if they were our own children,” Joyce said. “And we are humbled that our students have helped so many generations, and that they, in turn, are seeking out ways to continue this legacy of service. We love our students, and we are proud to be part of their Baylor story.”
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