Dr. Clifton Dow Bryant, 77, professor emeritus of sociology atVirginia Tech, died quietly on Monday, Sept. 13, 2010, at HeritageHall Nursing Home in Blacksburg, Va.

He was born in Jackson on Dec. 25, 1932, to Clifton Edward Bryantand Helen Dow Bryant, who preceded him in death.

He is survived by his wife of 53 years, Patty Watts Bryant, ofBrookhaven; by four children, Melinda Arrington, Deborah Miller andson-in-law, Glenn Miller, Diane Foster and son-in law JeffreyFoster, and his son, Clifton Dow Bryant II; five grandchildren,Ryan Foster, Joshua Foster, Jake Foster, Bryan Miller and AnnaleaMarrenger; and two aunts, Dorothy Cabell and Lucy Noblin.

Dr. Bryant moved to Blacksburg in 1972, as chairman of theDepartment of Sociology, where he remained until his retirement in2007. At Virginia Tech, he received six teaching awards, and alsowas the recipient of the CLAHS Excellence in Research and CreativeScholarship Award.

During his career, he enjoyed faculty status at six Americancolleges and universities, and two Asian universities, XavierUniversity in the Philippines and National Taiwan University inTaiwan. He was also a visiting scientist at three scientificinstitutes, including the U.S. Army Research Institute. He receivedtwo Fulbright Summer Awards, permitting him to tour Hungary and thePeople’s Republic of China.

Dr. Bryant is a past president of the Southern SociologicalSociety, where he was inducted into the Honor Roll of Fame, andalso of the Mid-South Sociological Association, where he receivedtheir Distinguished Career Award.

He founded the academic journals, “Sociological Symposium” and”Deviant Behavior.” Additionally, he served as associate editor ormember of the editorial board of six other journals.

He has authored or edited 11 single-volume books, edited onefour-volume encyclopedia and one two-volume reference handbook,co-edited one two-volume reference handbook, and just publishedanother two-volume encyclopedia. He has a two-volume “Handbook ofDeviance” in production with Routledge in England, which is to bereleased in November. He has authored many research reports andarticles in journals and periodicals. His two-volume “Handbook ofDeath and Dying” was selected by the American Library Associationas one of the “Outstanding Reference Source” books for 2003.

Dr. Bryant loved to travel, and he and his wife visited over 40countries over the past years. Dr. Bryant was a hunting enthusiastwho went on five safaris in Africa, and he was an avid collector ofart and antiques, including Asian art, illuminated manuscripts andChinese porcelain. He served in the military during the 1950s ascompany commander and chief of police at Fort Rucker, Ala.

A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. on Thursday, Sept. 16,at McCoy Funeral Home in Blacksburg, with visitation for friendsand family from 10 a.m. until the time of the service. Intermentwill be held at Lakewood Memorial Park in Jackson on Saturday,Sept. 18, at 1 p.m., when a graveside service will be held.

In lieu of flowers, please make a donation to the American CancerSociety.