Longtime employee of Chemistry Department dies

FROM RICE NEWS STAFF REPORTS

	TOM BLAKENEY

The Rice community is mourning the loss of Tom Blakeney, a longtime Rice employee in the Chemistry Department. He died Jan. 20. He was 46.

For almost 19 years, Blakeney worked in the Chemistry Department stockroom, where he handled all the shipping and receiving at the Space Science loading dock.

He was a supporter of the Graduate Student Association and a member of the Marching Owl Band. He asked to join the MOB in 1992 after watching the fun-spirited band perform. In reference to being a MOBster, Blakeney was quoted in a 1998 Rice News article: “Not many people have a chance to go out and root for their employer.”

A memorial service was held Jan. 25. Memorial contributions may be sent to the Rice University Bands, MS 134, P.O. Box 1892, Houston, Texas 77251 or the Boy Scouts of America, Bay Area Council, Council No. 574, 3020 53rd St., Galveston, Texas 77551.