Thomas Hagler Jr.

AUGUSTA, Ga. - Thomas Waterman Hagler, Jr., entered into eternal rest at his home surrounded by his loving family on Tuesday, June 25, 2013. Tom was born August 9, 1930 to Thomas Waterman Hagler Sr., and Thomasine Danforth Hagler of Augusta, Georgia. Tom was a life long resident of Augusta, Georgia. He graduated from Richmond Academy in 1948. He attended the Georgia Institute of Technology earning a Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering in 1952. Upon graduation and through his participation in ROTC he became a Second Lieutenant in the U.S. Air Force. In 1953 he met and married Billie Joyce Smith of Lakeland, Florida. In 1954, after pilot training he was sent to Japan and assigned to the 15th tactical reconnaissance squadron flying the RF-86F Haymaker Sabre jet. Tom's RF-86F bore the name Pretty Billie after his wife. In 1956, Tom started his career in business with Georgia Iron Works Co. (GIW) in engineering. While serving as Chief Engineer, Tom and his brother Danforth W. Hagler (Danny) developed the first hydraulic slide rule used to perform slurry pump and pipeline calculations. The GIW Hydraulic Slide Rule now resides in the Smithsonian Institute in Washington, DC. In 1963 Tom was elected Vice President and Chief Engineer and in 1971 he became President and Chief Executive Officer after the untimely death of his father, Thomas W. Hagler, Sr. then president of GIW. Tom has always been a visionary and was the prime mover behind transforming the technology of pumping solids in suspension from an art to a science. He strongly supported research and development at GIW and was the driving force behind the construction of the largest and most sophisticated hydraulic test facility in the world. The highlight of his career occurred in 1988 when GIW became a part of KSB AG of Frankenthal, Germany. After 32 years of working for a family business, Tom became the Slurry Pump Division Manager for the second largest pump company in the world. In 1994 Tom became a member of the Georgia Tech Academy of Distinguished Engineering Alumni. In the mid 1990s he served on the Mechanical Engineering Department's Advisory Board of Georgia Tech. Tom is known and well respected by Mining and Dredging Companies worldwide. In the 1970's Tom developed a passion for Bible study. He felt a sense of urgency to share with friends and family the peace he had found in God's Word. In his retirement years he published several books primarily focused on basic Bible truths. One of his greatest joys in life was Christian fellowship and discussing God's grace. Tom is survived by his beloved wife of 59 years Billie Smith Hagler, four sons and one daughter; Thomas Waterman Hagler III and his wife Angela Peters of Rocky Face, Georgia; Robert Stewart Hagler and his wife Becky Harter, Thomasine (Tina) Hagler Boswell, David Ross Hagler and his wife Kelly Bartee, and Benjamin Lenoir Hagler and his wife Brooke Smith all of Augusta, Georgia; his brother Danforth (Danny) Waterman Hagler and wife Vera Florence of Atlanta, Georgia; and his sister Alice Hagler Lee and her husband John W. (J.) Lee of Augusta, Georgia. Tom and Billie were blessed to have 16 grandchildren and 9 great grandchildren. The family will receive friends at their home, 5 Somerset Court, this evening from 5 to 7pm. Funeral Services will be held Friday, June 28th, 11:00 AM at Reid Memorial Presbyterian Church, 2261 Walton Way, with Dr. Matthew Rich, Elder Sam Bryant, Elder Gus Harter, and Elder Dwayne Hooven officiating. Pallbearers will be Tom's six grandsons, Thomas Waterman Hagler IV, L.Cpl. Robert Stewart Hagler Jr., Benjamin Lenoir Hagler Jr., Robert McWhorter Boswell IV, David Ross Hagler Jr., and William Asbury Hagler. Interment will follow at Westover Cemetery. In lieu of flowers the family asks that a contribution be made either to The Augusta Old Line Primitive Baptist Church, 3646 Old Petersburg Rd., Martinez, Georgia 30907 or to St. Jude Children's Hospital at www.stjude.org. Tom's books can be found online at www.basicbibledoctrines.com. Thomas Poteet & Son Funeral Directors, 214 Davis Rd., Augusta, GA 30907 (706) 364-8484. Please sign the guestbook at www.thomaspoteet.com