Obituary

Vernon Eugene McBryde 1933-2010

OBITUARY SUBMITTED BY:

Nelson-Berna Funeral Home and Crematory

     4520 North Crossover Road, P.O. Box 8982, Fayetteville, AR

     Phone: 479-521-5000

     http://www.nelsonberna.com

Vernon Eugene McBryde

Fayetteville, AR

1933 - 2010

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Published: August 8, 2010

Dr. Vernon Eugene McBryde, 77, of Fayetteville, Ark., passed away Aug. 3, 2010 in Fayetteville, Ark. He was born Feb. 3, 1933 in Palmyra, Ark., to Robert Coy McBryde and Clara Mae Carleton McBryde. Vernon graduated from Glendale High School (Arkansas) in 1950 and was the class valedictorian. He played basketball and was a member of the Glendale Quartet. He married Nellie Florence Sims on May 8, 1954 in Wichita, Kan., at McConnell Air Force Base. He served in the U.S. Air Force during the Korean conflict and was discharged as a staff sergeant with a job specialty of management analyst. Vernon's formal education includes a B.S.I.E. from the University of Arkansas in 1957, graduating with honors; an M.S.I.E. also from the University of Arkansas in 1960 with an emphasis in management; a PH.D. in Industrial and Systems Engineering from the Georgia Institute of Technology in 1963 with a major emphasis in Quantitative Management Science and a minor emphasis in Industrial Psychology. His formal work experience began as an industrial engineer for the Clary Corporation in Searcy, Ark., followed by the beginning of his career in higher education and management consulting which spanned nearly 30 years. His positions included Instructor and Assistant Professor of Industrial Engineering, University of Arkansas; Ford Foundation Fellow, Georgia Institute of Technology; Associate Professor of Industrial Engineering and Research Associate in Drug Systems Research, University of Arkansas; Professor and Head of Industrial Engineering Department, Montana State University; Vice-President for Academic Affairs, Dean of School of Systems Science and Professor of Management Science, Arkansas Polytechnic College; President of Productivity International, privately owned management consulting firm; Associate Dean of Engineering, Professor of Engineering, Director of the Engineering Extension Center, Associate Director of the Engineering Experiment Station, University of Arkansas. Vernon was also owner and Chief Executive Officer of a manufacturing company, OMC Windows & Doors, Inc. in Fayetteville beginning in 1984. Throughout his career, Vernon published numerous professional papers and articles. He was certified as a Fellow in the American Production & Inventory Control Society and as a retired Emeritus Professor of Industrial Engineering at the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville, he was recognized nationally by the American Society for Quality Control for his contributions to the field of quality control and was awarded the title of Senior Member. In 1988 he was inducted into the Arkansas Academy of Industrial Engineering. He was preceded in death by his wife Nellie McBryde, his parents, and a brother Robert Carleton McBryde. He is survived by a son, Bryan McBryde and his wife Barbara of Springdale, Ark., one daughter, Pamella McBryde English and her husband Greg of Coppell, Texas; five grandchildren, Brandon McBryde, Benjamin McBryde, and Brett McBryde all of Springdale, Anna English and Brooke English of Coppell, Texas; and one sister Angie Perryman and husband Darrell of Alexander, Ark. Visitation will be held at Nelson-Berna Funeral Home on Sunday, Aug. 8 from 2 p.m. until 4 p.m. Funeral services will be held Monday, Aug. 9 at 10 a.m. in the Chapel of Nelson-Berna Funeral Home with Pastor Rocky Bell officiating. Burial will follow at Fairview Memorial Gardens in Fayetteville. Memorial contributions may be made to the American Heart Association or the American Cancer Society. To sign the online guest book, please visit www.nelsonberna.com. Arrangements are under the direction of Nelson-Berna Funeral Home of Fayetteville.