David Gordon Sweet

SWEET, DAVID GORDON - died suddenly on February 21, 2012 near Birmingham, Alabama while traveling back home to Knoxville, Tennessee. David was 60 years old and a 30 year resident of Knoxville. David was born on May 25, 1951 in Charlotte, N.C. to Ann Vann and Gordon Wiles Sweet. David graduated from Sandy Springs High School in Atlanta, attended Georgia Tech, and then obtained his B.S. in Electrical Engineering at the University of Tennessee in 1974. He obtained a Master's Degree in Electrical Engineering in 1981. From 1976 to 1986, David served as Department Chair and Associate Professor of Engineering Technologies at Roane State Community College in Harriman, Tennessee. In 1986, he joined Pellissippi State Technical Community College in Knoxville as Department Head and Professor of Engineering Technologies. He became Dean of Continuing Education and Technology Transfer in 1988. He joined Sun Microsystems in 1997 as Sales Account Manager. In 2009, he joined Agilysys, Inc. (later OnX Enterprise Solutions). At the time of his death, he was a senior account executive for OnX. David was an avid cyclist and runner, competing nationally and internationally. He was also committed to charitable causes. At the time of his death, David was working on a development project for the Harmony Family Center at Montvale. David was a devoted father, grandfather, son, brother and friend. He is survived by his daughters, Jennifer Sweet and Kristin Sweet-Adkins; his son-in-law, Todd Adkins; his grandson, Talon Adkins; his brother, Charles Sweet; his sister-in-law, Sally Sweet; his nephews, Charles Sweet and Gregg Edwards. He is also survived by his Chesapeake Bay retriever, Skeeter, and numerous close friends. David led a loving, full, and accomplished life. A celebration of his life will be held at the Harmony Family Center at Montvale, 4901 Montvale Road, Maryville, TN 37803 at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, March 3rd. Contributions in memory of David may be made to the Harmony Family Center at Montvale, 131 Cherokee Heights Drive, Maryville, TN 37801 or the Humane Society, P.O. Box 51723, Knoxville, TN 37950. Please sign David's online register book at highlandmemorialparks.com.