Eugene Floyd Cox

After attending elementary school, junior high school and high school in Bradenton, he began his higher education at Georgia Institute of Technology in Atlanta, GA. He received his Bachelor of Science and Master of Science degrees from GA Tech in Chemistry. The next two years were spent as a graduate instructor at Massachusetts Institute of Technology in Cambridge, MA. However, when his advisor Professor John D. Roberts transferred to California Institute of Technology in Pasadena, CA, Gene went with him and completed his doctorate in Chemistry and Plant Physiology in 1954. He spent the next year at Harvard University working under a National Science Foundation Postdoctoral Fellowship in organic chemistry.

In 1955 he joined the Research Department at what was then known as Union Carbide in South Charleston, WV as a research chemist and served as R&D Manager for rigid foams. It was during that time that he was instrumental in discovering that silicone oils determine the cell size of polyether foam. By finding and developing the proper catalyst to trigger the reaction, it was possible to make the foam in one simple step instead of the customary two processes involved in foam rubber. In 1955 Gene and a group of his fellow Carbide scientists were written up in Life magazine and hailed as some of the “Frontiers of Technology”. In 1962, Gene was appointed a Group Leader in the rocket program of the Special Projects Division of the Union Carbide Chemicals Company’s Research and Development Department. He worked on jet rocket fuel propulsion which was a top secret assignment requiring high level government security clearance. In 1966, Gene was promoted to Assistant Director in the Chemicals Research and Development department at the Union Carbide Technical Center. At the same time he was appointed Technology Manager for Chemicals, Plastics, and Fibers Intermediates in the company’s Business Team organization. During his time in South Charleston, he developed numerous processes and is the holder of over 40 patents. He contributed to many technical publications and was a member of the American Chemical Society, the Chemical Society of London and Sigma Xi. In 1972 he was transferred to Bound Brook, NJ as Assistant Director Composite Material Systems rising to Director of Research and Development. In 1975 he was assigned to Director of the Chemical Hygiene Fellowship, an industrial toxicology research unit of Carnegie-Mellon Institute of Research in Bushy Run, PA which was a fellowship sponsored jointly by Carnegie-Mellon and Union Carbide. He remained in Pittsburgh for the next three years. In 1979 he accepted a position as Director of Research and Development Resin Division with Georgia Pacific Corporation in Decatur, GA where he remained until his retirement in 1996. While at Georgia Pacific, Gene had overall responsibility for the central research laboratory at Decatur and the four sales development laboratories at Albany, Oregon; Crossett, Arkansas; Columbus, Ohio; and Decatur, Georgia. He was responsible for the regional structure of the R&D organization using a modified project system creating the concept of project managers and technology managers.

While at GA Tech, Gene met Anne Radford and they were married in January 1952. They had three daughters, Betsy, Ellen and Barbara. During their nearly 43 years of marriage, they lived in Pasadena, CA; Boston, MA; Charleston, WV; Westfield, NJ; Pittsburgh, PA and finally Dunwoody, GA. Anne and Gene were incredible parents who were very devoted to their children. Gene had high expectations of his daughters and he loved them very much. Anne and Gene gave their daughters everything – dance lessons, piano lessons, art lessons, tennis lessons, summer camp, numerous vacations, educations, many restaurant meals, and most of all they showed them the importance of family. After Anne’s death in 1994, Gene was understandably grief stricken. He was still working full time then. When it was time to celebrate Anne’s 50th high school reunion, two of her dear friends convinced Gene to attend even though he did not want to go. At the reunion, he was re-acquainted with Gloria Preston who had recently lost her husband. They married in 1997 and enjoyed a wonderful 14 years of marriage before her passing in 2011.

Throughout Gene’s life, he demonstrated the value of hard work, integrity, tenacity, honesty and generosity. Above all, he taught his children the importance of family and was loved by all who had the privilege of knowing him. He had several nick names over the years: the energizer bunny because he never stopped doing anything or slowed down, and the absent minded professor because as smart as he was, his common sense at times was lacking. He left countless cameras at dance recitals, in restaurants and once ran over one he had placed on the roof of his car and forgot about before backing the car up. He usually left a golf club on the golf course. He walked into a street sign because he was busy talking with his wife. He once wrote his weekly check to the church for the entire balance in his checking account instead of his usual weekly contribution. He loved going out to restaurants for a nice meal and always wanted to include family and his daughters’ friends. Our world is a little bit dimmer, but we know that Gene will always be with us, don’t cha know.

Gene is predeceased by his father, James Olin Cox, Sr.; his mother Stella Floyd Cox; his brother James Olin Cox, Jr.; his sister Shirley Cox Webb; his first wife and the mother of his three daughters Anne Radford Cox; his second wife Gloria Power Preston Cox; and his son in law Robert Andrew “Andy” Hallenberg. He is survived by his daughters Elizabeth “Betsy” Cox D’Addamio (George), Johns Creek, GA; Ellen Cox Hallenberg, Johns Creek, GA; Barbara Cox-Geyer, Acworth, GA; his grandchildren Kate Elizabeth D’Addamio (Damian Romney), Cumming, GA; Mary Christine “Christy” Hallenberg, Johns Creek, GA; Spencer Eugene Geyer, Acworth, GA and his step grandchildren Sean Alan D’Addamio, Tucson, AZ and Danielle Andrea D’Addamio (Jake Perkins), Jasper, GA. He is also survived by his step children from his marriage to Gloria: Marie Preston, Lee Preston (Amy), Russell Preston and Tom Preston (Donna). He is survived by numerous nieces and nephews. The family would like to acknowledge Gene’s friendships with Phyllis Gareis (deceased) and Shirley Caruso and thank them and their families for their kindness to Gene. We would also like to express our gratitude to the staff and caregivers at Lenbrook.

A memorial service will be held on Saturday, June 21st in the chapel at Dunwoody United Methodist Church, 1548 Mount Vernon Road, Dunwoody, GA at 2:00 pm with a reception to follow. A private family burial will be held at a later date.

In lieu of flowers, we invite you to make a memorial contribution to Atlanta Community Food Bank, P.O. Box 105263, Atlanta, GA 30348-5263.