Remembering Odell McGuire
Odell McGuire, longtime professor of geology, banjo-player and inventor, died on December 8. Our classmate Jim Williamson writes:
I was saddened to hear of the death of Professor Odell McGuire, whom I remember fondly.
The pride and joy of my sophomore year was a red Honda trail bike motorcycle, which I rode to class every day, as well as on long, lazy expeditions into the countryside surrounding Lexington. (I even rode it all the way to the summit of House Mountain on one occasion.)
Dr. McGuire must have envied me, because that summer while I was to be away at home in Memphis, he arranged to rent the motorcycle from me. On the last day of classes I carefully indoctrinated him on the intricacies of cranking the engine and shifting the gears, and then watched as he happily putt-putted away down Lee Avenue.
A couple of months later I was surprised to receive a call from him at home. “I’ve got a little problem with your Honda,” he explained in a worried voice. “It’s been running just fine all summer, but this morning it wouldn’t start at all. I’ve tried everything I can think of, but nothing works. Do you have any ideas?”
“Well," I replied, "it’s always cranked right up for me. Let me think a minute. You’ve checked the gas tank, I guess?”
A long silence followed.
“Um, I’d better get back to you on that . . . .” he replied. And that was the last I heard from Dr. McGuire about the problem.