In Memory

Randy Lankford

Thomas Randall Lankford

GALVESTON: Thomas Randall (“Randy”) Lankford age 69 of Galveston passed away Saturday, February 18, 2012 at John Sealy Hospital in Galveston. A Memorial Celebration of Life will be held from 2:00 pm until 5:00 pm Saturday, February 25, 2012 at his residence in Galveston.

Born August 7, 1942 in Corpus Christi, Texas to Thomas W. Lankford and Lena Jeanette Faringer Lankford, Randy was a 1960 graduate of W.B. Ray High School in Corpus Christi. He attended Southwestern University in Georgetown, TX and was a member of Kappa Sigma Fraternity. He went on to receive a B.S. Degree in Biology from Texas A&I University in Kingsville, TX in 1965. He received his M.S. Degree from Sam Houston State University in Huntsville, TX in 1968 and worked on doctoral studies at Texas A&M University and Sam Houston State University.

Randy joined the Galveston College faculty in 1969 as a Biology Instructor. In 1976, following his promotion to Acting Chairman of the new Department of Biological Sciences, Randy authored his first academic text book, Integrated Science for Health Students, published by a Prentice-Hall Company. Second and third editions were published in 1979 and 1984. In 1986, Randy co-authored a second academic text book, Foundations of Normal and Therapeutic Nutrition, published by John Wiley & Sons, with a second edition published in 1993.

Over his 42 ½ years of service to Galveston College as Professor of Biology, Randy taught Anatomy & Physiology, Biology, and Nutrition courses to literally thousands of students. He was highly regarded by faculty as someone who would not shy away from sharing his views or taking a chance on new technologies and trends in teaching aids. Students often viewed Professor Lankford as challenging but fair, and respected him greatly for his efforts at improving their critical thinking skills.

Additionally, Randy served on many College and Faculty Committees and as a judge for annual Science and Engineering Fairs. In January 2012, he reluctantly retired early due to health concerns while hard at work authoring his third academic text book, with 23 of 24 chapters complete at the time of his passing.

In the early 1980’s, Randy cut short doctoral studies at Sam Houston State University and shifted his primary life focus towards raising a family with two young sons. Beginning with their first years of Tee-Ball in 1983, Randy and his wife served as stalwarts in Galveston’s youth baseball community for the next decade.

Randy dedicated tremendous time, energy, and resources towards coaching, mentoring, and serving as a board member for West-Isle Little League until 1992. In 1993 he was presented the Distinguished Service Award by the Galveston Pony Baseball League, followed by Man of the Year Award in 1994.

Each and every year, from 1983-1994, Randy served as Coach for his son’s baseball teams with neither he nor his wife missing a game through their high school years - even if it meant split duty in separate cities with long, late night drives before work the next day.

Randy was well known among close friends and family for his colorful personality and humorous language, to include perpetual use of the word “Crock” and frequent mentions of “Fiddle Farting” when describing his son’s futile activities. He would undoubtedly describe his passing as a “Humongous Negative Crock of S**t”.

Randy and his late wife were members of the Krewe of Gambrinus and the Havre Lafitte Neighborhood Dinner Club. He also enjoyed recreational travel, cruises, yard work and tending gardens recently planted for his young granddaughters. He was also days away from buying a pontoon boat in order to spend quality time with his granddaughters on Galveston Bay.

Preceded in death by his parents and his wife of 34 years, Billie Jo Haynes Lankford who passed away November 25, 2005, survivors include sons, Christopher Haynes Lankford and wife Rachel A. Tilts Lankford and Nicholas Faringer Lankford all of Galveston; brother, James Lankford and Kathy of Houston; grandchildren, Alise Lankford, Sofia Lankford and Coley Lankford.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made in memory of “Professor Randy Lankford” to the Galveston College Universal Access Program at: Galveston College, 4015 Avenue Q, Galveston, TX 77550. Attn: Joe Huff.

Carnes Brothers Funeral Home

 



 
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02/24/12 04:22 PM #1    

Joyce Shealy (Liedecke)

Randy always had a ready smile...that's how I will remember him...always, that wonderful smile. We were classmates at Hamlin and Ray and also attended the same church and Sunday school in Corpus Christi. He was good-hearted and an all around terrific person. He shall be missed.


03/03/12 03:41 PM #2    

(zale)Eddie Cook

Though he lived two blocks away while in HS, I did not get to hold a discussion with Randy until our 50th Reunion.  I'm o glad I had the chance to interact with him while both of us are/were in this world. Eddie Cook /


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