BARR, JR., Dr. Thomas Calhoun - Of Nashville, TN, age 79, University of Kentucky professor emeritus, who reached a vast audience of cave explorers with his book "Caves of Tennessee," died Friday at his home of a heart attack. His publications included over one hundred scientific journals and papers on ecology, taxonomy, and cave evolution. At the age of seven, he went to Mammoth Cave with his parents, and from that time on, he knew he wanted to study cave ecology. He wrote "I read and re-read the brochure Caverns of Enchantment, from cover to cover, many times." He won the Westinghouse National Scholarship as one of the top ten young scientists in the nation and accepted the award from President Harry Truman at the White House. He received an A.B. degree from Harvard University, an M.A. from Columbia University, and a PhD. from Vanderbilt University. During his career, he served as chair of the Zoology Department at UK and was a President of the National Speleological Society. Dr. Barr established the Institute of Speleology, with a laboratory at Mammoth Cave. Dr. Barr's love of caves shaped his career and his life. He was hired by the State of Tennessee to create a survey of caves in the state. resulting in his "Caves of Tennessee" book. He recalled "visiting county court houses every Saturday to ask the local whittlers where to find caves". He was a founding member of both the Nashville and Boston Grotto caving clubs. His study of cave beetles quickly became the focus of his scientific study. During his lifetime, Dr. Barr described to over one hundred species of cave beetles, many of which were previously unknown. Dr. Barr also acquired many other interests in life. He was passionate in the creation of exotic daylilies, enjoyed playing his mandolin, researched family history, enjoyed photography, and embraced the very latest in technology. He wrote dozens of short stories, raised champion Dachshunds, and assisted with a variety of worthy causes. Dr. Barr is preceded in death by his parents, Dr. Thomas Calhoun Barr, Sr. and Gladys Hutchison, and his brother, William H. Barr. He is survived by his wife of 33 years, Judith Crow Barr; children, Maridel Barr (Duane Menting), Melisa Gibson and Thomas C. Barr III and their families; grand-children, Ashley, Justin, Joshua, Chelsea; and great-grandchildren, Anna-Lise, Cadence and Evan; sisters, Anne Barr Weems (Don) and Jane Barr Stump (David Green). Pallbearers: Brian E. Roebuck, Nathaniel Mann, Dr. Julian Lewis, Larry E. Matthews, David Withers. Honorary Pallbearers: Duane Menting, Jeffrey Buntin, John Buntin, Brendan Finucane, Jim Grubbs, Alfred Thomason, Dr. William Halliday, Roy Davis, Dr. John Holsinger, Robin Robbins, Jody Bailey, Richard C. Mangelsdorf, Edward Yarbrough, Bill Cuddington, Stuart Weems. Services will be held at Downtown Presbyterian Church on Thursday, May 5th at 1 p.m. Visitation will be from 11:30 a.m. - 1 p.m. Graveside service to follow in Franklin, KY. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to The Downtown Presbyterian Church or the Nashville Grotto of the National Speleological Society. MARSHALL DONNELLY COMBS, (615) 327-1111.
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