Dr. James Xavier Corgan, Jr., of Woodstock, Trenton, KY, died on August 20, 2012, at Baptist Hospital in Nashville, TN. He was preceded in death by his parents, James Xavier Corgan, Sr. and Eleanor Donahue Corgan, and his first wife, Dorothy Van Buskirk of Kansas City. He is survived by his present wife, Elnor Weaks McMahan Corgan; two step-sons, Whitnell McMahan (Stacie) and John Thornton McMahan (Jennifer); two step-granddaughters, Catherine Amelia McMahan and Melorah Grace McMahan of Lakeside Park, KY; and a godchild, Colleen McCluskey of Tomahawk, WI. Several special extended family members survive, Lois Dege (Jerry) of Flanders, NJ, Marie Teresa McDonald (Thomas) of Bedminster, NJ, Cecelia McCarthy (Jack), Michael Corgan (Katie), and Mary Conley of Kingston, PA and Dr. Margaret Corgan of Mountain Top, PA. Special in-laws were the Van Buskirk, McMahan, and Weaks family members. Special attentive Weaks family members were Helen Weaks Reed, Richland Place, Nashville, and Dr. Thomas E. Weaks, Jr. (Elizabeth), Cumberland City, TN, Dr. Mary (Brent) Weaks-Baxter, Roscoe. IL, and Rebecca (Neal) Brandvik, of West Chicago, IL.
Dr. Corgan was born on August 8, 1930, in Lucerne, PA and lived in New York City after the age of eleven years until adulthood. He was a veteran of the Korean War, where he was assigned to an artillery unit. He earned a B.S. degree at New York University, M.S. degree at Columbia University, Ph.D. in Geology from Louisiana State University. His early employment for ten years was as a field geologist on the Chief Geological Staff of Sonclair Oil Company. He had assignments in numerous locations mainly in the Bahamas, Central America, Alaska, and numerous western states.
In 1968, he accepted a position to teach geology and as Chairman of the Geology Department at Austin Peay State University. He not only was a teacher, but he was also a scholar who wrote and published over 300 articles, papers, etc. during his career. He made a significant contribution to the TENNESSEE ENCYCLOPEDIA OF HISTORY AND CULTURE. His most recent publications were several articles in the HISTORY OF TENNESSEE MEDICINE in 2010. He encouraged his students to write and co-authored many articles and projects with them. As a result, many of his students visited and stayed in touch with him throughout the years. This past year he contributed a major part of his research material to the Curator of the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County, CA.
He was an active participant in regional, state, and national geological societies, where he served on Committees and presented several papers. Dr. Corgan was honored by being the first recipient of the Hawkins Award given at Austin Peay for excellence in teaching. The Geoscience Program established a "James Corgan Outstanding Junior Award," named after James Corgan, a paleontologist, who started the program in 1972.
Dr. Corgan was an avid bridge player that included duplicate bridge. He was also a world traveler, having visited 49 states and over 65 foreign countries. He was an active member of the Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Clarksville, TN. He has served as Head Usher as well as other roles within the church throughout the years.
Active pallbearers will be colleagues and former students. Retired faculty and staff at Austin Peay will serve as honorary pallbearers.
Visitation will be at Neal-Tarpley-Parchman Funeral Home on Wednesday, August 22, 2012, from 4-7 p.m. A rosary service will be held on Wednesday, August 22, 2012, at 7 p.m. at the funeral home with Deacon Dominick Azzara officiating. A funeral mass will be held on Thursday, August 23, 2012, at 10 a.m. at the Immaculate Conception Catholic Church with Deacon Dominick Azzara officiating. Burial will follow at Greenwood Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Immaculate Conception Catholic Church or to the charity of ones choice. Arrangements entrusted to Neal-Tarpley-Parchman Funeral Home, 1510 Madison Street, Clarksville, TN 37040. Online condolences may be made at www.neal-tarpley.com.