In Memoriam
The School of Leadership & Human Resource Development honors the memory of our faculty
emeriti who have passed away.
Their years of teaching, research, and mentorship shaped generations of students and
left a lasting mark on our school. We remember them here with gratitude for their
contributions.
Lynn Louis Pesson, PhD
Professor Emeritus and Retired Vice Chancellor
Dr. McMurry joined the LSU faculty in 1964 as a professor of Industrial & Technical
Education, later serving as department chairman. He passed away in 2022.
Dr. McMurry moved to Baton Rouge in 1964 to join the LSU faculty, where he remained for the rest of his career, eventually rising to department chairman. A native of Winnfield, Louisiana, he earned his undergraduate degree from Northwestern State University — where he met his wife, Jeanette, in a dance class — his master's from LSU, and his doctorate from the University of Missouri. Before his academic career, he served as a U.S. Army lieutenant training anti-aircraft artillery gunnery crews. Known among family and friends as a tireless worker capable of fixing almost anything, he was a devoted supporter of LSU athletics and a longtime member of St. John's United Methodist Church in Baton Rouge.
Edward W. Gassie, PhD
Professor Emeritus, School of Vocational Education
Dr. Gassie served on the faculty of Agricultural Education for the Louisiana Cooperative Extension Service and was a U.S. Navy veteran of World War II. He passed away in 2012, at the age of 86.
Dr. Gassie dedicated his career to preparing agricultural educators and extension professionals across Louisiana, work that shaped how generations of teachers brought agricultural knowledge to their communities. Born in Mark, Louisiana, in 1925, he served as a Pharmacist's Mate in the U.S. Navy during World War II before building a career in education back home. His commitment to students didn't end with his retirement — he and his wife, Helen, established the Dr. and Mrs. Edward W. Gassie 4-H Scholarship Fund, which continues to support LSU 4-H students today. He was a founding member of St. Aloysius Catholic Church in Baton Rouge and is remembered by colleagues and former students as a steady, generous presence in Louisiana agricultural education.
Betty C. Harrison, PhD
Professor Emeritus, School of Human Resource Education & Workforce Development
Dr. Harrison served as a professor and former director of the School of Human Resource Education and Workforce Development, LSU SLHRD's predecessor. She passed away in 2012, at the age of 73.
Dr. Harrison's career centered on family and consumer sciences education and career and technical education, fields in which she was deeply active at both the state and national level — holding membership in organizations including the American Association of Family and Consumer Sciences Education and the National Association for Career and Technical Education. Colleagues remembered her meticulous, organized approach to her work and her willingness to mentor those around her. Her legacy at LSU continues through the Betty C. Harrison Fellowship, which supports graduate students in the school she helped lead.
James G. McMurry, EdD
Professor Emeritus, School of Vocational Education
Dr. McMurry joined the LSU faculty in 1964 as a professor of Industrial & Technical
Education, later serving as department chairman. He passed away in 2022.
Dr. McMurry moved to Baton Rouge in 1964 to join the LSU faculty, where he remained for the rest of his career, eventually rising to department chairman. A native of Winnfield, Louisiana, he earned his undergraduate degree from Northwestern State University — where he met his wife, Jeanette, in a dance class — his master's from LSU, and his doctorate from the University of Missouri. Before his academic career, he served as a U.S. Army lieutenant training anti-aircraft artillery gunnery crews. Known among family and friends as a tireless worker capable of fixing almost anything, he was a devoted supporter of LSU athletics and a longtime member of St. John's United Methodist Church in Baton Rouge.
Satish Verma, EdD
Professor Emeritus, School of Human Resource Education & Workforce Development
Dr. Verma came to LSU from India in the mid-1960s and went on to teach in the Extension Education department for decades. He passed away in 2023, at the age of 93.
Joe W. Kotrlik, PhD
Professor Emeritus, School of Human Resource Education & Workforce Development
Dr. Kotrlik joined the LSU faculty in 1978 and held a tenured professorship for 35
years until his retirement in 2013. He passed away in 2024.
Dr. Kotrlik earned his B.S. in Agricultural Education from Tarleton State University in 1971 and his Ph.D. in Human Resources from Texas A&M University in 1978, the same year he joined the LSU faculty. Over 35 years at LSU, he built a career respected by colleagues and students alike, holding a tenured position until his retirement in 2013. Beyond the classroom, he was an active community member, serving with the Lions Club in Rosenberg, Baton Rouge, and later Weatherford, Texas. He is remembered by his family and former colleagues as a dedicated educator whose greatest joy was his family — his wife of 52 years, Judy, and their children and grandchildren.