Obituaries

Col. Jackson Gillela

nd Col. Jackson Emelius Gilleland, 96, died on Tuesday, Feb. 4, 2014. Born Aug. 6, 1917, he was a native of Abbeville, S.C., the son of Roy James and Septima Hollingsworth Gilleland. He had been a resident of Signal Mountain since 1955. Jack graduated from the Citadel with a bachelor of science degree in civil engineering. He received the Award of Gold Stars for academic excellence and was a member of the Round Table. Upon graduation he was commissioned as second lieutenant in the United States Army. He received a teaching fellowship to the University of Tennessee at Knoxville where he earned a master of science degree in civil engineering. He graduated Summa Cum Laude and was elected to Tau Beta Pi and Phi Kappa Phi Honorary Fraternities. He joined the UT faculty teaching civil engineering before being called into military service in 1941. During World War II, he served in North Africa and Italy with the Fifth Army as commanding officer of the 46th Ordnance Company, Executive Officer and Maintenance Officer of the 42nd Ordnance Battalion, Battalion Commander of the 67th Ordnance Battalion, and executive officer and commanding officer of the 53rd Ordnance Group. Jack received the European African Middle Eastern Theater Medal with four Bronze Stars for his service in the Naples-Foggia, Rome-Arno, Northern Appenines and Po Valley Campaigns. Additionally, he was awarded the American Theater Medal, American Defense Service Medal, World War II Victory Medal and Medalha de Guerra (Brazilian) Medal. He was discharged from the Army in 1946 and spent 26 years in the Army Reserve before retiring with the rank of Colonel. In 1946, Jack began work with the Tennessee Valley Authority. He was Chief of Power Supply Planning, Director of Power Resource Planning, Assistant to the Manager of Power as advisor in nuclear and environmental matters and Assistant Manager of Power. His background with TVA in planning and evaluating expansion of the TVA system power supply was extensive. He was instrumental in TVA's transition to nuclear power and in the planning of the first nuclear power plant at Browns Ferry. He served on national committees covering a wide area of electric power interests and chaired committees for the Electric Power Research Institute and National Power Survey. While working with the International Atomic Energy Agency, he assisted the Philippine government in appraising the feasibility of nuclear power and also provided counsel to the Saskatchewan Power Corporation. He was a professional engineer in South Carolina and Tennessee and a member of the American Society of Civil Engineers, the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, and the Chattanooga Engineers Club. Jack retired in 1979 and remained as a consultant to TVA and became senior consultant to the SM Stoller Corporation of New York. Jack was involved in multiple clubs and service organizations. He was a member of the Chattanooga Chapter of The Retired Officers Association and served as treasurer of the organization. He was president of the local chapter of the TVA Retirees and president of the valley-wide chapter of the TVARA. He was a member of the Chickamauga Investment Club, Wolftever Fishing Club and Citadel Alumni Association. He was named the Lions Club Melvin Jones Fellow for his work with the KidSight Program. A charter member of Signal Crest United Methodist Church, he served as the first Sunday School superintendent and chairman of the board. Jack was preceded in death by his parents; and brothers, Roy and William; and grandson, James Dixon Cook. Jack is survived by his wife of 72 years, Helen; his daughters, Mary (Scott) Cook, of Signal Mountain and Ann (Robert) Neighbors, of Lakeway, Texas; grandchildren, David Jackson (Louise) Cook, of Signal Mountain, Susannah Helen Cook, of Kennesaw, Ga., Laurie Hollingsworth Cook (Deron) Stevens, of Chattanooga; great-grandchildren, Jackson Park Cook and Mabry Augusta Cook, of Signal Mountain. A private burial service with full military honors will be held at Chattanooga National Cemetery. Serving as honorary pallbearers will be David Jackson Cook, Susannah Helen Cook, Laurie Hollingsworth Cook Stevens, David Scott Cook, Robert Lynn Neighbors, Roy James Gilleland, Richard Maxwell Gilleland and Deron Eugene Stevens. A memorial service will be held at Signal Crest United Methodist Church, Signal Mountain, at 12:30 p.m. today, Feb. 7, with the Rev. Mark Gooden officiating. The family will receive friends at a reception to be held following the service. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations may be made to the Music Fund at Signal Crest United Methodist Church, 1005 Ridgeway Ave., Signal Mountain, TN 37377. Please visit www.heritagefh.com to share words of comfort to the family. Arrangements are by Heritage Funeral Home, East Brainerd Road.

Published February 7, 2014

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