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G. Preston Bryant ’60
of Coosada,
on April 9, 2017. A U.S. Navy
veteran, Preston worked for many
years as a licensed psychologist in
Huntsville and Decatur. He later
moved to Montgomery to work as
a psychologist at Gunter Air Force
Base, before transferring to Maxwell
Air Force Base to round out his
career as an editor for Air University
Press. He was an award-winning
short story writer, animal lover,
sports enthusiast, and big band
a cionado. Preston is survived
by his wife,
Gloria Glasgow
Bryant ’57
, ve children, four
grandchildren, two great-grandsons.
Dr. Gordon H. Doss ’60
of
Mountain Brook on March 27,
2017. Doss spent his early career
at the Alabama Department
of Education’s Division of
Rehabilitation Services and later
served as executive administrator
of the UAB Comprehensive
Cancer Center. His interest in
cancer led to a cancer research
company in Tennessee, followed
by work with the Social Security
Administration’s Of ce of Hearings
and Appeals. He earned a Ph.D. in
rehabilitation counselor education
from the University of Alabama.
Doss volunteered with many
organizations that served the sick
or disadvantaged or in places where
he could interpret for the hearing
impaired. Doss also served with
the Alabama National Guard and
was deployed to France during the
Berlin Crisis, where he became
uent in French. Survivors include
his wife, two daughters, two step-
children, ve grandchildren, and
three great-grandchildren.
Dr. Virginia Davis Gauld ’60
of
Pell City, on March 14, 2017. Gauld
earned a master’s in rehabilitation
counseling and a Ph.D. in higher
education administration from the
University of Alabama. She was the
rst female vice president at UAB,
where she was the vice president
for student affairs. She remained
involved with the YWCA throughout
her career and in retirement; in
1990, she became the rst board
president. When Gauld retired from
UAB and moved to Pell City, she
expanded the YWCA shelter services
for Blount and St. Clair counties;
she co-chaired two successful capital
campaigns that together raised close
to $30 million for the YW. She held
many leadership and volunteer
positions in the community. Gauld
is survived by her husband; ve
children, including
Rev. Dr. Lee
Franklin Shafer ’83
of Anniston
and
Denson N. Franklin III ’85
of
Birmingham; 11 grandchildren; and
one great-grandchild.
John L. Putnam ’61
of Birmingham,
on Aug. 25, 2016. Putman lost
his eyesight before graduating
from BSC, but went on to earn
a master’s in psychology from
the University of Mississippi. He
taught at the college level before
moving into administration and
then entered the private sector,
where he remained for the rest
of his career, excluding four years
of government service with the
IN MEMORIAM ’58
The Rev. Denson N. Franklin Jr
.—part of a
four-generation BSC family, including his father,
the late
Dr. Denson N. Franklin Sr. ’36
; son and
daughter,
Denson N. Franklin III ’85
and
Rev.
Dr. Lee Franklin Shafer ’83
; and granddaughter,
Holland Bauer ’11
—died at his home on May 29,
2017, in Birmingham. He was 80.
Franklin studied English at Birmingham-
Southern, graduating in three years. A naturally
gifted singer, he performed with the Concert
Choir under the directorship of the late and
legendary Dr. Hugh Thomas, and sang with the
college’s Alumni Choir for several years.
“One of his favorite memories of his time at
BSC was when Robert Frost visited the campus on his way to Florida,” said Denson III.
“Mr. Frost read his poetry in Dad’s English class, which was held outside underneath the
ginkgo tree that day.”
Franklin graduated from the Candler School of Theology at Emory University with a
master of divinity in 1961. He served as a student pastor while in college and seminary,
was ordained a deacon and presbyter in the Methodist Church, and served the North
Alabama Conference until 1972. He left parish ministry to work in human resources for
25 years at Rust Engineering, UAB, and First National Bank of Birmingham; he retired as
senior vice president of AmSouth Bank (now Regions) after 16 years.
Again answering the call to ministry, Franklin was ordained a priest in the
Episcopal Diocese of Alabama, and for a time, served at St. Barnabas in Hartselle,
Ala., while remaining full-time at AmSouth. He later served St. Luke’s in Mountain
Brook, St. Stephen’s in Cahaba Heights, and the Episcopal Church of the Incarnation
in Highlands, N.C. During his tenure as a priest, Franklin developed a career
transitions ministry, drawing from his business experience to counsel people seeking
new employment due to job loss or other life changes.
Franklin was a lifelong learner, avid reader, traveler, and one who made authentic
connections with others. The Denson N. Franklin Professorship in Religion was
established at BSC in 1996 to honor his father, a distinguished United Methodist pastor,
leader, and author, who also served as a BSC trustee.
In addition to Denson III and Shafer, he is survived by his wife; three other children,
including
Scott Pyburn ’85
(
Margaret Renneker Pyburn ’84
) of Birmingham and
Stacy
Pyburn ’92
of Asheville, N.C.; and 11 grandchildren, including
Reid Pyburn ’19
, who
is a football student-athlete. The family has requested that memorial contributions be
made in his name to the Of ce of Advancement at BSC, Box 549003, 900 Arkadelphia
Road, Birmingham, AL 35254.