Professor Marshall Dixon

Professor H. Marshall Dixon III, 92 of Indianapolis departed this life March 14, 2022. He was born in Brooklyn, New York on June 4, 1929, to actress Grace Elizabeth Gearing and H.M. Dixon II, an Army Corps engineer. Marshall was the 13th generation of the family which settled in Jamestown in 1607. Growing up in the Chesapeake Bay area of Maryland, he was raised a country boy, but with family in Washington D.C., he eventually made the move from a rural to a highly urban setting. At an early age, Marshall attended the Randolph Macon Military Academy before going on to the University of Virginia, where he studied physics and electrical engineering. Working under the well-known classical experimentalist, Professor Jesse Beams, Marshall developed a process for measuring the molecular weight of proteins to three significant digits using a non-destructive method involving a high-speed centrifuge system. While at the University of Virginia, he earned an undergraduate degree, a Master’s degree, and PhD degree in physics in a mere 8 years.

In 1954, Marshall graduated with his doctorate in physics and accepted a position at Tulane University before working at White Sands Test Facility in New Mexico. While at White Sands, Marshall performed research in microwave meteorology. He became Assistant Professor in both the physics and electrical engineering departments, and lectured in mathematics, at what is now known as New Mexico State University. There he began to develop his reputation for being a dynamic lecturer and displayed a unique passion for teaching.

In 1957, Marshall accepted a full professor position at Butler University, where he presided as head of the physics department for nearly twenty-five years. One of Marshall’s most notable legacies at Butler was his Saturday Morning Physics Program, which he began in the summer of 1957 and continued through 1987. He organized and designed a physics program primarily for junior high and high school students who were interested in science. Working with young adults of all ages, Marshall possessed an uncanny talent for apprehending a student’s proclivities, and then “marshalling” him or her into an individualized course of learning that might include theoretical physics, engineering, mathematics, electromagnetic theory, quantum mechanics, optics, digital electronics, computer systems architecture or special and general relativity. Countless times, Marshall could be heard meeting with an incoming interested youth, talking about interests, and saying, “Well, let’s see what we can do with you.” Students from all walks of life learned to believe in themselves as much as he believed in them, and many went on to earn advanced degrees in a variety of disciplines, sometimes skipping over years in high school or college along the way. Marshall met students where they were in life and built from there, not by leading from in front, but by gently guiding from behind.

Marshall housed and fed Butler University students free of charge for decades, introducing them to a wide range of international cuisines, doing all the cooking himself, and mentoring them in their studies. Marshall relished the hours of stimulating conversation and the exchange of fresh ideas that grew from this arrangement. He always viewed and treated his students as colleagues and expected them to rise to the occasion. More than 50 of his students went on to earn PhD, medical and law degrees. As Marshall continued to grow and learn through his lifetime, he consulted these colleagues for advice in their various areas of expertise.

Marshall taught all the physics and engineering courses available in the Butler physics department and, later in his tenure, organized and taught courses in other departments of the university, including Constitutional Law, History of Law, and Multinational Corporation and the National State. He was an avid student of any subject, with history near the top of the list. He acquired his own 2000-volume library of history, comprising mostly primary sources. Marshall retired from Butler in 2010 but continued to stay involved in physics education. He worked to develop a four-year, university-level physics program at Cathedral High School. Marshall also published a three-volume textbook series in the past several years, entitled “Natural Philosophy: The Logic of Physics,” available on Amazon.

Marshall mentored hundreds of professionals around the world spanning the areas of physics, engineering, medicine, education, and law. He was also known for his clever Christmas Letters which he sent out to family, friends, and former students every year. He loved to travel, and to tell of his travels. He visited 23 countries on 6 continents. Before visiting any country, Marshall read their history, learned their culture, and taught himself enough language to honor the local people and blend in.

In 2019, Marshall was awarded the Butler Service Medal, the highest honor bestowed on faculty and staff of the university. The ceremony was highlighted by accolades from distinguished professors and colleagues who recognized Marshall’s dedication to individualized teaching and his passion for lifetime learning.

Various events honoring Marshall, including a book-signing and milestone birthday parties, were attended by former students who traveled from all corners of the country to celebrate with him and honor him. Marshall enjoyed the love and deepest respect of scores of students and colleagues who will always share a common bond: the profound influence of a caring man who, by simple guidance and steadfast example, fostered a drive for excellence in their paths, their stories, and their lives. They were a part of his story, and he will always be a part of theirs. Marshall is survived by his grandsons Jimmy Miller and Ian Kenney and cousin Dr. Linda Sundquist-Nassie.

Visitation for Professor Dixon will begin at 4:00 pm on Saturday, April 23rd at Cathedral High School with a Funeral Mass to follow at 5pm.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions are suggested in his name to one or more of the following: Cathedral High School Physics Program, Salesian Missions, Covenant House, Mercy House

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.leppertmortuary.com for Professor Dixon.