Thomas Hilditch Landess

Thomas H. Landess passed away suddenly in the company of family following a brief hospitalization. Tom was born in Sarasota, Florida in 1931 to Elizabeth and Joe Landess. He graduated from Deerfield Academy in Massachusetts, received a B.A. and M.A. from Vanderbilt University, served in the United States Army, and received a Ph.D. from the University of South Carolina. Tom taught literature and creative writing at Vanderbilt University, Converse College, Furman University, and the University of Dallas for a combined period of over two decades. While a full professor at the University of Dallas he also served as Academic Dean. Tom published several books and over 100 articles, poems, and reviews for such scholarly publications as the Sewanee Review, the SouthernReview, and the Georgia Review. In 1982, he left academia, and moved his family to Edisto Beach. He dedicated five years exclusively to writing before moving to northern Virginia, where he continued to write and publish books, articles, and op-ed pieces, and began serving as a ghost writer for major political figures and organizations. Tom proudly served Presidents Reagan and Bush at the U.S. Department of Education. In 1997 he and his wife returned to South Carolina and lived in Columbia where Tom continued writing. He enjoyed his work and especially the people at the South Carolina Attorney General's office where he served three Attorneys General, most recently The Honorable Alan Wilson. Tom was a regular contributor to Chronicles: A magazine of American Culture.Tom is survived and will be forever missed by his devoted wife of over fifty years, the former Mary Beth Dunbar, by his three children, Ashley, Allen, and Kate, and by his grandson, Jack. The Burial Office and Holy Communion will be celebrated at The Anglican Church of the Epiphany, in Columbia at 2512 North Beltline Blvd., this Friday, January 13, at 12 noon. Afterwards, the family will receive guests at the home of Ashley Landess, at1223 Butler Street.Tom was devoted to God and Country, wife and family, scholarship and letters, and will be missed by everyone who knew him. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Nazareth House Apostolate, which is a children's ministry in Sierra Leone. Donations may be made online at: http://www.nazarethhouseap.org/ or mailed to: Nazareth House Apostolate; 185 Captains Cove Drive; Taylorsville, KY 40071. Online register barr-price.com 803-356-4411