Dr. Hiram Barksdale, Sr.

Dr. Hiram Collier Barksdale, Sr., age 94, of Jacksonville, Florida died of natural causes at home on July 20, 2016 surrounded by family.

A nationally distinguished writer, lecturer and researcher in the field of marketing, Professor Barksdale was born on December 4, 1921 in Washington County, Georgia, the son of William Henry and Maude Smith Barksdale.  He was raised in Georgia and graduated from Sandersville High School.  He served in the United States Army during World War II as a chemical engineer and obtained the rank of Sergeant.  After his military service, he returned to Georgia and graduated from the University of Georgia’s College of Business Administration in 1948.  He earned his Master’s degree from New York University in 1949 and began his teaching career at Washburn University.  In 1950 Hiram married Helen Jeanne Epp of Maplewood, New Jersey and moved to Topeka, Kansas where he continued his teaching career.

In 1951, Dr. Barksdale returned to New York University and was awarded his Ph.D. in business in 1955.  He worked at the Advertising Research Foundation in New York City from 1952-1960.  In 1957, he accepted an associate professorship at the School of Commerce at NYU.  Dr. Barksdale was promoted to full professor and appointed chairman of the undergraduate marketing department at NYU in 1959.  In 1965, Dr. Barksdale returned to his alma mater as senior professor of marketing in the College of Business Administration at the University of Georgia and helped establish the Ph.D. program in marketing.  Three years later, he was appointed chairman of the marketing department.  In 1972, he was honored with the College of Business Distinguished Alumni Award.  That same year, Dr. Barksdale was appointed Distinguished Professor of Marketing and served in that capacity until his retirement in 1986.  Dr. Barksdale was a recognized academic leader having authored or co-authored more than 150 journal articles, research reports and book reviews.

Dr. Barksdale took pride in his vegetable and flower gardens.  He cultivated the Georgia red clay with a green thumb that resulted in widely acclaimed tomatoes, corn, squash, okra, asparagus and potatoes.  He would celebrate each harvest season by hosting farm-to-table parties for family and friends.  Dr. Barksdale also enjoyed fishing in the spring, listening to the whippoorwills in the summer, cheering for the Georgia Bulldogs in the fall, and enjoying his wife Jeanne’s culinary skills year round.

Dr. Barksdale was predeceased by his wife of 53 years, Helen Jeanne Epp Barksdale, and his wife of 8 years, Anne “Holly” McMichael Bleakley Barksdale.  Survivors include his children Hiram Collier Barksdale, Jr. of Atlanta, GA, Beverly Barksdale of Jacksonville, FL, Sally Barksdale (Patrick Kiney) of Fernandina Beach, FL and Andrew “Andy” Barksdale (Laura) of Charlotte, NC.  Step-children include Anne B. Jones of St. Simons Island, GA, Edward Arthur Bleakley, III (Becky) of Jacksonville, FL, Laura B. Touchstone (Robert) of Acworth, GA and Jean B. Adrian of Valdosta, GA.  Grandchildren include Christopher Harrell of Athens, GA, Collier Barksdale, Morgan Barksdale and Addison Barksdale of Charlotte, NC, Frederick Bruce (Evelyn) of Buford, GA, Edward Arthur Bleakley, IV (Katherine) of Chapel Hill, NC, Tanner Bleakley of Charleston, SC, Samuel Bleakley of Jacksonville, FL and Lawson Touchstone and Holland Touchstone of Acworth, GA.

Interment with military honors rendered by the U.S. Army will be held at 10:30 a.m. Monday, August 1, at Jacksonville National Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Terry College of Business, University of Georgia, 420 Correll Hall, 600 S. Lumpkin St., Athens, GA 30602.  Alternatively, perform an unexpected act of kindness for a family member, friend or neighbor.