A professor and director of theSchoolofForestry, Wildlife and Fisheries at LSU and a retired colonel of the Marine Corps Reserves and former Marine aviator in World War II and Korea, Thomas Hansbrough passed away at 2:50 a.m.Friday, Feb. 23, 2007, at Our Lady of theLakeRegionalMedicalCenterdue to chronic illness. He was 83, a native ofGreenfield, Tenn., and a longtime resident of Baton Rouge. Visiting at Rabenhorst Funeral Home, 825 Government St., was on Sunday, Feb. 25, from 5 p.m.to 7 p.m.Visiting atSt. John'sUnitedMethodistChurch, 9375 Highland Road, on Monday from 9 a.m.until religious service at 11 a.m.Interment will be inGreenoaksMemorial Park. He is survived by his wife, Catherine Moore Walker Hansbrough; daughter, Dr. Faith Hansbrough; son, Dr. Thomas Allen Hansbrough; grandchildren, Thomas Allen Hansbrough Jr., Leigh Meredith Fahr, Andrew Luke Hargroder, and Virginia Grace Hargroder; and great-grandson, Thomas Allen Hansbrough III. He was preceded in death by his first wife, Virginia Sanders Hansbrough; father, M.T. Hansbrough; and mother, C.A. Hansbrough. He earned a bachelor's degree in forestry from LSU in 1949, master's degree in forestry in 1957, and a Ph.D. in sociology from LSU in 1961. He enlisted as a cadet with U.S. Navy in 1942, and was commissioned as a naval aviator on Dec. 24, 1943. He saw active duty in the Pacific Theatre with the U.S. Marine Corps during World War II from 1942 and 1946 and was recalled to active duty during the Korean conflict from 1952 to 1955. He retired as a colonel after 30 years of distinguished service to his country. Dr. Hansbrough served LSU in many capacities from 1949 to 1970; as teacher, administrator, and a researcher from 1970 to 1977. He also founded and directed theForestrySchoolatUniversityofKentuckybefore returning to LSU, where he became director ofSchoolofForestry, Wildlife and Fisheries, securing new facilities for the school. Dr. Hansbrough was a member of the Society of American Foresters, former executive secretary of the LSU Forestry Alumni Association, former vice president of the Reserve Officers Association, Phi Kappa Phi, Alpha Kappa Delta, Marine Corps Reserve Officers Association and the Navy League. He was an avid outdoorsman and a true environmentalist. He was a devoted member ofSt. John'sUnitedMethodistChurch, 9375 Highland Road. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to St. John'sUnited Methodist or to Our Lady of theLakeFoundation, 5000 Hennessy Blvd., Suite 116, Baton Rouge, LA70808.
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