Thomas E. "Tom" Battle III

Thomas E. "Tom" Battle III of Columbus, passed away unexpectedly on Monday, April 1, 2013, while teaching at the Indiana University Kelley School of Business in Bloomington, IN, where he had been an Adjunct Professor since 1983. Following his birth on February 16, 1947, in Louisville, KY, the family relocated to Indiana, residing first in Seymour and then in Columbus. He attended Columbus High School, where he played football and ran track for the CHS Bulldogs, graduating in 1965. Tom attended Indiana University, earning Bachelor's and Master's degrees, and completing all academic course work for a doctorate degree. He played soccer under the legendary Jerry Yegley, and then coached the IU Water Polo team for 10 years. A member of Sigma Phi Epsilon fraternity, he was an integral member of their Little 500 bicycle race team. Tom rode nearly 90 percent of the 1970 race to lead his team to victory that year. His professional relationship with Indiana University, which lasted until his death, began in 1974 at the Kelley School of Business Real Estate Certification Program (RECP). Following creation of the Center for Real Estate Education and Research in 1981, Tom moved with RECP into the new entity, where he co-owned and co-operated RECP for 38 years until selling the business to the Indiana Association of Realtors in 2010. During his tenure, Tom taught thousands of real professionals all across the state of Indiana, while also writing, co-authoring or editing 11 real estate, auction marketing and environmental issues text books. Survivors include his mother, Marcia Battle, of Columbus; a brother, Tim Battle of Murfreesboro, TN; sisters, Teresa (William) Hand of Brownsburg, IN, and Deborah Miller (Sergei Krasilnikov) of Boca Raton, FL; nephews, Paul Hand and Tyler Miller; nieces, Hadley Miller and Ally Miller; and a stepgranddaughter, Taylor Shannon. He was preceded in death by his father, Thomas Earl Battle, Jr., and his wife, Carolyn Shannon. The funeral service will be conducted by Dr. Dan Cash at 2 p.m. Friday at Myers-Reed Chapel, 3729 25th St., Columbus. Visitation will be held there from 4 to 8 p.m. Thursday and one hour prior to the service Friday. Burial will be at Garland Brook Cemetery following the service. Memorials may be made to Our Hospice of South Central Indiana, the American Heart Association or First Baptist Church of Columbus. Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.myers-reed.com.