W. Bruce Neil

W. Bruce Neil, of Leesburg, Fla., and formally of Dallas, passed away Sept. 18, 2013, in Beaumont, Texas.

Bruce was born Aug. 30, 1950, in Wilkes Barre, to William and Eleanor Neil. He grew up in Trucksville and attended Dallas schools.

Upon graduation in 1968, he entered the first classes for hospitality and hotel management at Luzerne County Community College, where he excelled and was a member of Gamma Alpha Gamma. After earning an associate of science and through the efforts of his mentor, Mr. James Malkames, he was accepted into the hospitality management program at Cornell University, graduating in 1974. While at Cornell, he was a member of Sigma Phi Epsilon. He also holds a master's degree in education from American Intercontinental University, and a Ph.D. in hospitality.

He began his hospitality career at the illustrious Mayflower Hotel in Washington, D.C., before entering the management-trainee program for Marriott Corp. During the next decade, he managed facilities for Marriott, Sheraton and Morris Custom Management, as well as for private resorts. In 1980, he took a position as food-service venue manager for the Winter Olympics in Lake Placid, N.Y.

A change in careers came in 1984 when, with the retirement of his mentor, he became department head and professor of the hotel restaurant programs at Luzerne County Community College. He held this position for the next 16 years. During his tenure, the program expanded and became highly recognized in the academic arena.

While at this position, he achieved many honors, including the Outstanding Faculty Award, the Outstanding Alumni Award, CASE nominee and runner-up for the prestigious CHRIE International Award. He was also invited to be a member of the People to People Academic Committee as a representative of the hospitality education field to advise the Russian Tourism Industry in developing their hospitality industry to meet the needs of a growing western tourism business. The committee included Russian President Vladimir Putin, the then-head of the Committee for External Relations of the St. Petersburg Mayor's Office. The group also met with tourism personnel in Czechoslovakia.

After leaving LCCC, Mr. Neil was department head at colleges in Tennessee and Ohio before he accepted a post as visiting professor for the Australian International Hotel School in Canberra, Australia. When he returned to the United States, he was department head and professor at Mohawk Valley Community College in Rome, N.Y.

In 2010, he became an online-instructor for Le Cordon Bleu and the Art Institute. He then started his travels in his motor home. He made his way to Texas, where he managed Hidden Lake RV Resort in Beaumont and Timber Lodge RV Resort in New Waverly, as well his continued online work.

During the Olympics, Bruce met Judith Relyea, and they were married March 15, 1980, in Lake Placid. They have two sons, Michael Andrew Neil and Robert Bruce Neil. Robert is married to Rebecca Fox Neil, residing in Cambridge, Md. Michael is married to Lori Van Etten Neil, and together they have eight children: Nicole Boyenowski and her husband, Joseph, Dupont; Sidney; Keegan; Delanie; Keifer; Malaki, Beckam and Kayton, all residing in Dallas.

A private gathering will be held in Dallas for the family on Oct. 19, 2013.

Arrangements were made by Broussard's of Beaumont, Texas. To leave a message for the family, visit www.broussardsmortuary.com/services.asp?page=services

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Reaud Guest House, 3120 College St., Beaumont, TX 77701. The facility provides low-cost housing for patients undergoing medical care at area hospitals.