Robert Lee "Bob" Drake, PhD., P.E.
June 24, 1926 — February 8, 2017
Dr. Robert L. Drake passed away February 8, 2017. He was born on June 24, 1926 in Bradford, PA to Charles Philbert Drake and Mary Belle Tubbs. He is survived by his wife, Tommie (Jackson); his children, Liselle McLeod, Leigh Carriere, Mark Drake, Matt Drake, Beth Carson, Sam Carson; 14 grandchildren and 6 great-grandchildren.
Dr. Drake was a graduate of Tulane University and Mississippi State University, where he studied electrical engineering and applied mathematics. He received the first PhD in electrical engineering from Mississippi State University. He was a Professional Engineer. He taught electrical engineering at Southern University, Tulane University, U.T. Martin and CBU. He achieved Professor Emeritus at both Tulane University and U.T. Martin.
He was a life member of the Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers. He was also a member of The American Society for Electrical Engineers Education, Tau Beta Pi, Eta Kappa Nu, Phi Kappa Phi and Sigma XI. He was a NSF Science Faculty Fellow and was listed in American Men of Science. He served as an expert witness in more than 60 legal cases.
Dr. Drake was the project engineer for the Minuteman Missile Flight Control System for trials as well as the first successful full range solo launch of the Minuteman Missile at Cape Canaveral in 1961. He was the recipient of the NASA National Space Act Association.
He served in the United States Navy from June 1944 until June 1946.
Services were held at 2 P.M. Saturday, February 11, 2017 at the Peebles West Funeral Chapel at Oakland. Interment followed in the Arlington Cemetery in Arlington, TN. Arrangement were provided by Peebles Fayette County Funeral Homes & Cremation Center - West Chapel at Oakland.
The family requests that memorials be directed to Fayette County Animal Rescue, P.O. Box 44, Rossville, TN 38066 or Tipton County Paws and Claws, P.O. Box 286, Atoka, TN 38004.