Thomas Muir

Austin - Dr. Thomas Muir was an internationally known physicist, seafaring scientist, professional engineer for the U.S. Navy, and consummate Texan. Born into German-Scottish heritage in San Antonio, he was the only child of Thomas and Martha Elizabeth Thompson Muir. His great grandfather, Gustav Schattenberg of Boerne, harvested and planted 300 Guadalupe River cypress saplings along the course of the San Antonio Riverwalk, where these majestic cypress trees still exist today.

After his father joined the Marines in World War II, Tom moved with his mother and Aunt Gladys to Austin. There he attended Austin public schools, spent summers at Camp Craft and Camp Tom Wooten, and roamed Congress Avenue and the shores of Town Lake with his faithful dog, Bob. His father was Scout Master at the First United Methodist Church downtown and Tom fondly remembered being the troop bugler and going on camping trips, visiting Big Bend, and traveling by train to Los Angeles for Boy Scout Jamborees. Tom achieved the rank of Eagle Scout. He was a proud graduate of Austin High, class of '56, where he played clarinet in the band.

Tom received his bachelor's degree in physics in 1961 from the University of Texas at Austin. He first joined Applied Research Laboratories (ARL) at the University of Texas at Austin in 1961 and spent a year in Washington DC assigned to the US Navy Bureau of Ships, working on depth sonar. In 1964 Tom completed his master's degree in physics under Prof. Claude Horton. In 1971 Tom earned his PhD in mechanical engineering under Prof. David Blackstock with a dissertation on nonlinear acoustics.

Tom was a fellow of the Acoustical Society of America. His work was mainly dedicated to mine warfare in which he published over 25 works. He also worked on submarine warfare. His first scientific paper done with Dr. Joe Blue was published in the tome "Benchmark Papers in Underwater Acoustics." He served a tour of duty with the Royal Australian Naval Lab in Sydney and worked in San Diego with the Navy Dolphins. In 1986, Tom took a 3 year leave of absence to join SACLANT Undersea Research Center, a NATO lab in La Spezia, Italy. He researched ocean seismo-acoustics off the coast of Italy, Spain, and Norway. Returning to Austin in 1989, Tom renewed his work at ARL. He received the 1990 Jeffress Award given for exceptional lifetime technical achievement and contributions by an ARL UT scientist. Tom eventually became the Assistant Director for Basic Research and Educational programs at ARL UT. Tom accepted the position of Ellis A. Johnson Chair of Mine Warfare at the Naval PostGraduate School in Monterey, CA in 1997. There he taught classes, conducted research at sea on dolphin sonar and on seismic sonar for detection of buried mines in the surf zone. He also conducted a distinguished guest lecture series.

After a brief courtship of 5 years, Tom married his fellow educator and Texas Longhorn, Sharon Biebas in 1999. Tom greatly admired the close knit Biebas family with their Wendish noodles and annual production of crock dill pickles. He and Sharon enjoyed gardening and fishing, and spending time on her family farm in Giddings. Tom and Sharon moved to Oxford Mississippi in 2003 when Tom accepted the position of Principal Investigator at The National Center for Physical Acoustics at Ole Miss. Tom and Sharon loved the 8 years of small town life in Oxford.

Tom morphed into retirement by returning to ARL UT in 2011, where he conducted experiments in his lab. He and Sharon enjoyed travel throughout the US, Europe, and Canada attending meetings of the Acoustical Society of America. Tom worked on restoring his 1931 Model A Ford Deluxe delivery vehicle which he owned and drove since the 1960's. He enjoyed spending time with family and especially his grandchildren. Tom reconnected with his classmates from Austin High School Class of 1956, gathering each Thursday at "Klatch" where they all relived their "glory days." In addition to his scientific contributions to the field, Tom will be remembered for his leadership in mentoring young scientists, his unwavering love and service to the University of Texas, and his passion for Texas Longhorn Football.

Tom passed away on January 22 after a brief illness. He is survived by his devoted wife, Sharon, daughters Dr. Meredith Roddy and husband Ted Roddy, Rachel Muir and husband Mark Gronquist, grandchildren Joe Seth and Georgia Roddy, Luke and Scarlett Gronquist, sister-in-law, Dr. Carolyn Biebas, brother-in-law, Bob Biebas and his wife, Julie, nieces and nephews, Kacie Biebas and husband Spike, Kelley Biebas Church and husband Wyatt, Scott Biebas, Paige Biebas, great nephews Bennett Church and Dutton Weaver. He is also survived by former wife, Molly Browning, his cousins, and a host of friends.

A celebration of life service will be held on Friday, January 31 at 2:00 pm at Triumphant Love Lutheran Church at 9508 Great Hills Trail, Austin, 78759. Memorials in his name may be made to Austin High School Scholarship Fund (Austin Trust, 338 S. Congress Ave., Suite 100, Austin, Tx 78704 ), the Christopher House Hospice Austin, or your favorite charity. The family invites you to leave a message for them or memory of Tom at Dignitymemorial.com or his page at Weed Corley Fish.