Dick Quible (Fall '51) 1928-2009

With deepest regrets we are sorry to announce that F. Richard (Dick) Quible passed away in November.

Dick was an ardent supporter of the University, VT Athletics, and yes his beloved fraternity Delta Kappa Sigma.  Included in his obituary among his many accomplishments and associations it was proudly stated that “… Dick was a member of Delta Kappa Sigma, now Delta Kappa Epsilon, serving as the fraternity’s president his senior year.”

Many Dekes had the opportunity to meet and speak with Dick over the years and he was always generous with his time to talk about the history of the fraternity.  Dick was also a regular financial supporter of the fraternity alumni association and a member to the 10-YEAR-CLUB.  His presence will be missed by those who knew him.  Our deepest sympathies go out to his family.

Click below to read his full obituary.

Originally published in the New River Valley News and Richmond Times-Dispatch.

On Monday, the 9th of November, 2009, Frank Richard (Dick) Quible was taken by our Lord and Savior, from his life on earth. Dick was born in the “Sandhills” of Nebraska (Long Pine), on Friday, April 13, 1928, the second son of Lena and Paul James Quible. Dick spent the first seven years of his life in Long Pine, where loving and caring family values were instilled in him, and remained for life.

In June of 1935, Dick moved, with his family, now with little sister, to Montgomery County, Md., and continued schooling at Cabin John Elementary School, Leland Junior High School, and Bethesda-Chevy Chase High School, graduating in 1945, at the age of 17. In May of 1946, at the age of 18, Dick volunteered for three years in the United States Navy. After basic training, at Bainbridge Training Camp, he was transferred to Treasure Island, Calif., for nine months of schooling in radio and sonar electronics, graduating in March 1947, with a 3rd Class Petty Officer’s Rating. While in the Navy, Dick also attained the rating of 2nd Class Electronics Mate. While serving aboard the U.S.S. Lloyd Thomas, destroyer, Dick visited such venues as San Diego, Pearl Harbor, Australia, Hong Kong, Singapore, Ceylon, Suez and Panama Canals, Persian Gulf, Saudi Arabia, Port Said, Egypt, Rock of Gilbraltor, Norway, Southhampton, England, and back to San Diego. Upon his return, Dick and the Task Force of which his ship was a part, had completed a world cruise of 51,327 miles.

Upon being honorably discharged from the United States Navy in May of 1949, Dick returned home to Montgomery County, Md., to live with his parents while attending George Washington University as a freshman engineering student, under the “G.I. Bill.” In the fall of 1950, Dick transferred to Virginia Polytechnic Institute, Virginia Tech, graduating in June, 1953 with a bachelor of science in civil engineering (BS in CE) degree. During his years as an undergraduate student, Dick was a member of Delta Kappa Sigma now, Delta Kappa Epsilon, serving as the fraternity’s president during his senior year. Dick was also elected to membership in Chi Epsilon, the National Civil Engineering Honorary Fraternity, and in Tau Beta Pi, the National Engineering Fraternity.

After graduation, and serving a six-year apprenticeship as a Design Engineer at the National Suburban Sanitary Commission, Washington, D.C., Perrow and Brockenborough, and Austin Brockenborough and Associates, both of Richmond, Va., Dick, in June of 1959, founded his own consulting firm, Quible and Associates, P.C., in Chase City, Va. By 1974, Dick had built his practice of providing the above services to clients across the entire Southeastern United States and areas of the Caribbean, with major branch offices in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., Nags Head, N.C., and field offices in Georgia, Tennessee, South Carolina, and Central Virginia. By 1984, Dick had sold or consolidated his many business interests in all geographic areas except North Carolina, settling in Kitty Hawk, N.C., until retirement at the end of 1997.

After retirement, and the death of his first wife, Betty Garnett Quible, Dick moved to Blacksburg, Va., in 1998, where he met and married Sarah Jean Russell, on August 24, 2004. Dick became involved in University life almost immediately upon taking up residence in Blacksburg, serving on the Virginia Tech Athletic Fund Board of Directors, the VTAF Executive Committee, the VTAF Audit Committee (1999 to 2005), and a member of the VT Campaign Steering Committee (silent phase) from 2003 through 2006. Dick and his wife, Jean, served as Co-chairpersons for the University Libraries fundraising effort, as members of the National Campaign Steering Committee (public phase) from 2006 until the time of his death. In the spirit of “Ut Prosim,” Dick and his wife have given generously, of their time and resources for the advancement of the goals of Virginia Tech, through provision of funds for Academic and Athletic Scholarships, construction of the Merryman Center, and Lane Stadium, the Center for the Arts at Virginia Tech, The Inn at Virginia Tech and Skelton Conference Center, the Holtzman Alumni Center, Virginia Tech Corps of Cadets, and the Class of 1953 gifting to Virginia Tech.

Dick was preceded in death by his mother, Lena Quible, on June 10, 1972; his father, Paul James Quible, on January 28, 1985; and his first wife, Betty Garnett Quible, on July 27, 1998. He is survived by his wife, Jean Russell Quible; a brother and sister-in-law, Norman Ernest and Rennie Gulick Quible, of Dover, Del.; a sister, Mary Louise Mechem, of Annandale, Va.; a brother-in-law and sister-in-law, Ted and Connie Russell, of Dublin, Va.; two nieces; five nephews; many grand and great-grand nieces and nephews; and many, many good friends. Dick’s one wish during his life on this earth, was that he could reveal, in his own small way, the glory and the grace of God to all he touched during that life. “Grieve for an hour, for the loss,” he said, “But rejoice for a lifetime for the gifts of our Lord.”

Funeral services will be held 2 p.m. on Wednesday, November 11, 2009, at the Blacksburg Baptist Church, with interment to follow at Westview Cemetery. The Reverend Tommy McDearis and the Reverend Todd Millsaps will officiate the service. The family has requested that in lieu of flowers, memorial gifts be made to the charity of your choice. The family would like to express special appreciation to Dr. McCoy, and Carilion Hospice for the kindness, compassion, and consideration they have shown to Dick and Jean in this stressful time. Arrangements by McCoy Funeral Home, Blacksburg, Va.

We’re thrilled to share that on November 8, 2008 at the 35th Anniversary Greek Alumni Gala in Blacksburg, the Virginia Tech Office of Fraternity and Sorority Life honored Hank with the establishment of the Henry S. Mattox Fraternity Alumni of the Year Award.

This award will be given annually in recognition of a Virginia Tech Fraternity Alumni who demonstrates the most outstanding service and commitment to the Mission of Virginia Tech and the Principles and Values of the American Fraternity Movement.

Congratulations Hank – thanks for representing us so well, then and now.

Check out the PDF of the actual award.

• Sam Dibert (Political Science)
• Elliott Fouts (Computer Science)
• Dan Sexton (Biology)

Best of luck!

You can read the whole article at Fortune’s website by clicking here.

The article, “Made to Measure”, describes his management successes as CEO of The Nielsen Company, which he took over in 2006.

Dave is just another example of successful DKE alumni… check out our list of Famous Dekes.

In addition to his exploits as a gentleman, scholar and jolly good fellow in DKE, Dave is also kind of famous in the business world for his executive talents as the current Chairman and CEO of The Nielsen Company, and before that, Vice Chairman of General Electric — accomplishments we are sure he would attribute almost entirely to experience gained managing his first enterprise as DKE’s Bar Chairman many years ago.

Congratulations, Dave.

Dave Calhoun (Spring ‘76, center) with DKE Alumni Board members Dan Johnson (Spring ‘74, left) and Jim Scanlon (Winter ‘76, right) at a reception at the DKE House in May 2005. Calhoun gave the commencement address for VT’s 2005 graduating class later that night in Lane Stadium.

Click here to see his Washington Post obituary.