Melvin Clyde Cottom

Melvin Clyde 'Mel' Cottom, 87, of Manhattan, Kansas, passed away on Saturday, November 19, 2011 at Mercy Regional Health Center. He was born October 11, 1924, the son of Clyde Walter Cottom and Mamie Cunningham Cottom. He grew up in Coffeyville, Kansas and graduated from Coffeyville High School in 1941. He attended Coffeyville Junior College. His family then moved to Lawrence in 1942 where he enrolled in Electrical Engineering at the Unversity of Kansas, He earned his Bachelor of Science degree in 1945 and Master's degree in 1948. He was appointed to the KU electrical engineering faculty immediately upon graduation at the age of 20 in 1945 and served until 1950. Mel was employed as an Electrical Design Engineer by Black and Veatch, Consulting Engineers (1950-1955) with most emphasis on power generation stations. He accepted an appointment as Assistant Professor of Electrical Engineering at Kansas State University in August of 1955. He retired in January 1990 as Assistant Professor Emeritus. Professor Cottom was a Life Senior member of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers. Other professional memberships included Tau Beta Pi (engineering honor society) and Eta Kappa Nu (electrical engineering honor society.) Mel was a charter member of the KSU Chapter of Delta Upsilon Fraternity. Mr. Cottom was also a member of Lafayette Lodge No. 16 A.F.& A.M. of Manhattan; the Scottish Rite Bodies and the York Rite Bodies both of Lawrence; he belonged to the Thomas Jefferson Chapter (Topeka) of the Sons of the American Revolution; and supported many historican and arts organizations. He was a 67 year member of Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia Music Fraternity. On August 18, 1963 Mel was married to Mary E. Brumm in the Danforth Chapel on K-State Campus. She survives. Other surviviers include and nephew, Steve Pendleton , and his wife, Cathy Ricketts, Escondido, California; a niece, Helen Rumaout, and her husband, Mike Ambrose Austin, Texas; a great grand nephew, Charles Clark; a great niece, Sasha Willingham, and her husband, Jimmie. both of Leander, Texas; and several counsis. He was preceded in death by his parents; his sister, Edith Cottom Livingston, Pendleton Rankin and her youngest son, Martin William Pndleton. A private graveside service will be at a later time in the Pleasant Valley Cemetery, Zeandale Community, Manhattan. Memorial contribution may be made to the Marianna Kistler Beach Museum of Art-KSU Foundation or the Washburn University Foundation-Sunflower Music Festival Endowment and may be left in care of the Irvin-Parkview Funeral Hom, 1317 Poyntz Ave., Manhattan, KS 66502.