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L. Linton Deck Jr.

L. Linton Deck Jr. obituary, Asheville, NC

L. Deck Obituary

L. Linton Deck, Jr.

Asheville - L. Linton Deck, Jr. died on July 3, 2015 at the Givens Health Center in Asheville, North Carolina. He was preceded in death by his first wife, Frances Hampton Deck and a grandson, Cary Kibby-Deck. He is survived by his second wife, Patricia Horne Deck, two daughters, Dayna F. Deck (Caron Hankins), Kansas City, MO, and Laura L. Deck, Nashville, TN, son, H. Hampton Deck (Lynn Emerson), Benicia, CA and stepson, Dustin Sumner (Karen), Arden, NC and grandchildren Kendall Kibby-Deck (Scott Blackburn), Ian, Malcolm, Eric Deck; Colleen Emerson, Zoe Sumner; brother, David Deck (Polly) of Charlottesville, VA.

Linton Deck was a big person - in stature and personality. After graduating from Davidson College, he served as a science teacher, football coach, and high school principal in Fulton County, Georgia. Later, he earned a Masters of Arts at the George Peabody College for Teachers and a Doctor of Education at Harvard University. He was a captain in the 81st Infantry Division United States Army Reserves for 14 years.

Early in his career, Deck served as Assistant Superintendent in Alexandria (VA) City Schools, where he assisted with significant school desegregation planning and implementation. He served on the Education faculty at the University of Georgia and later became Assistant Superintendent for Instruction with the Nashville Metropolitan Public Schools.

From 1971 - 1982, Deck served as Superintendent of Schools in Bibb County Public Schools in Macon, GA; Orange County Public Schools in Orlando, FL; and Fairfax County Public Schools in Fairfax, VA. He achieved national recognition for championing the use of technology to enhance student learning, professional development for teachers and administrators, and expanded programs for students with disabilities.

In succeeding years, Deck served as the founding Director of the Learning Technology Center at Vanderbilt University, chaired their Department of Educational Leadership, and held several other administrative positions. He also served as Director of Educational and Non-profit Applications Programs, Center for Creative Leadership in Greensboro, NC. After a short retirement, he was persuaded to come to the University of West Georgia as professor and Chair, Department of Educational Leadership. He worked there until 2007 when he again retired, and he and Pat moved to Givens Estates in Asheville.

Deck was the first recipient of The Conroy Prize for outstanding leadership, awarded by the Harvard School of Education. He also received the American Association of School Administrators' Distinguished Service Award for "exemplary leadership, service, and commitment to public education" and the Horace Mann League's Outstanding Educator Award "for leadership in the strengthening of public education in the United States."

His life had a profound impact on thousands of young people, educators, and colleagues. His legacy will live long in the lives of those he touched, and he will be remembered as a man of integrity who respected everyone.

Both he and Pat greatly appreciated the support they received from Dr. Timothy Plaut of MAHEC and the staffs of the Givens Health Center and Wood Assisted Living during his long battle with Parkinson's disease. A memorial service and celebration of life will be held at Givens Estates on August 29, 2015.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be sent to University of West Georgia Foundation, Inc., 1601 Maple Street, Carrollton, GA 30118. Please specify the Linton Deck Leadership Scholar Fund in the memo section of the check.

To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.

Published by Asheville Citizen-Times on Jul. 12, 2015.

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6 Entries

July 16, 2015

Mr. Deck was our principal when I taught art at Lakeshore High beginning in 1963. He took us through the shock of President JFK's assassination and inspired and led with his high standards and expectations, leaving us to go for his study at Harvard. His dynamic personality is bound to be missed by all who knew him. My sincerest condolences to his family.

(Blanche Flanders Farley LHS faculty 1963-68)

July 13, 2015

I am very sad to hear of Mr. Deck's passing. I learned a lot from my years at Lakeshore High. My sympathies to his family.

Leslie D. Caton

July 12, 2015

What a great principal; I attended Russell for 8th grade; His Father was principal there. At Lakeshore, He was so unique and had His own way of doing things. I invited Him to speak at one of Our youth group meetings at East Point Christian Church. He loved to have Hootenannies in the auditorium as well as talent shows during after school hours

Sharon Frank

July 12, 2015

My heartfelt sympathy to you all. Mr. Deck was one of the most amazing men and educators, and I had the privilege of being one of his students at Lakeshore HS. He brought Unity and Courage to his students. I know his last years were difficult, but in paraphrasing an old Gospel Hymn, "...he's got a new body, he's got a new life."

Sincerely,

Sharon Hammond Frank
LHS Class of '64

Elaine Bryan

July 12, 2015

Mr Deck was the principal of my high school, Lakeshore High, in Fulton County , Georgia during the early 60s. He put together the most amazing group of teachers in this new school and was such a great leader and example to all the students. He expected excellence....and we were the beneficiaries of that! He had a sense of humor and honored God....we had Bible reading over the intercom every morning to start our day. He leaves a legacy for all of us who knew and loved him... Elaine Benefield Bryan Lakeshore High Class of 1964

Jackie Cranford Sherwood

July 12, 2015

He was my high school principal my first 4 yrs at Lake shore in College Park. I had the privilege of having a long talk with him at one of our reunions and sharing as an adult. He certainly was a wonderful influence on many of us and we were very sorry to lose him at our high school. Condolences to his family.

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