Andrew Thacker Jr.

Thacker, Jr., Andrew Jackson
November 19, 1939 - March 31, 2012
On March 31, a most remarkable man passed from this life into the next. Brilliant, energetic and kind, Andy Thacker was a force of nature that drew people from academia to industry, arts and literature to sports, and could convince a democrat to vote republican. Andrew Jackson Thacker, Jr. was born November 19, 1939 in Richmond, Virginia, the only child of Andrew Sr. and Helen Landers Thacker. His father died when Andy was 13 years old. He credits Benedict Catholic High School for seeing his potential and enabling him to achieve it. On scholarship, he attended prestigious Virginia Military Institute where he obtained degrees in Chemistry, Mathematics and Physics. Following graduation he was commissioned 1st Lieutenant in the Army, serving as Nuclear Weapons Officer in Korea. Plans to enter medical school at the end of his military service had to be put aside as his mother's deteriorating health necessitated immediate employment. He soon acquired an MBA. His student teaching inspired him to go on for his Educational Doctorate from the University of Houston in 1977 where he continued to teach until 1983. He remained an enthusiastic supporter of the school and their sport teams all of his life. In 1972 he married Carol Janik and though divorced 16 years later, they remained lifelong friends. 1984 saw Andrew move to the West Coast to be Associate Professor of Marketing Management in the School of Business Administration at California State Polytechnic University, Pomona, California. He soon became a full professor, earned tenure and was Professor of International Business and Marketing the last 10 years of his career. He retired as Professor Emeritus in December 2004. Andy moved back to Texas, built his dream retirement home and hosted a countless number of friends and former students over the ensuing years. A deep commitment to education and the students themselves led to numerous related professional activities. He especially enjoyed his 30 year active association with the Golden Key International Honor Society as well as other academic and scholarship organizations to promote higher education. No matter where he lived, he was active in his neighborhood associations and programs to better the community. A list of his many honors would be too long to enumerate but they would include awards for Teaching Excellence, Outstanding Service, Outstanding Academic Advisor, the Marquis Who's Who in the South and Southwest and Professional Photographers of American Who's Who. Andy's life will be defined by the enduring mark he made on the lives of those he taught and all those who loved him. A special thanks and gratitude from all of Andy's friends to Bernard Lim, the one who came for a visit then stayed on to ease Andy's long and difficult last two years. A visitation will be held Friday, April 13 from 6 to 8 pm at Crowder Funeral Home 111 E Medical Center Blvd, Webster, TX 77598. A funeral mass will be held 11 am Saturday, April 14, at St. Bernadette Catholic Church, 15500 El Camino Real, Houston, TX 77062. He will be laid to rest at Mount Olivet Catholic Cemetery.