Colonel Merritt B. Pound, Jr., USAF, Retired (1-17-13)

An Athens native, Colonel Merritt B. Pound, Jr., USAF, Retired, 78, died unexpectedly Thursday morning, January 17, 2013, at Athens Regional Hospital, following complications from heart surgery.

A lifelong Georgia Bulldog fan, Colonel Pound witnessed his first Georgia game in 1938 at the age of four. He went on to star on the Georgia tennis team 1952-1955 and during his senior year served as the team captain under his cousin, Coach Dan Magill. A career Air Force officer and pilot, Colonel Pound culminated his 28-year military career in 1983 as the commander of the University of Georgia's Air Force ROTC detachment and professor of aerospace studies.

As one of the Georgia Bulldogs biggest fans, he missed only six games since his retirement in 1983. During the Vietnam War, while stationed in Japan, Colonel Pound hitchhiked via Army planes to Georgia's 1966 Cotton Bowl game against SMU and the 1967 Liberty Bowl against N.C. State in Memphis, Tenn.
Colonel Pound was a member of the Athens Rotary Club and the Gridiron Secret Society. He also served as a member of the Board of Managers of the University of Georgia Alumni Society. He was a lifelong member of the First United Methodist Church in Athens.

Survivors include his wife, Evlyn; and sons, Sergeant Major Merritt Pound III, USA, Retired, and Richard Weaver II; daughters, Libby Weaver (Hollett), Dr. Susan Weaver (Hawn), and Nancy Weaver (Gaultney); 11 grandchildren; and 10 great-grandchildren.

Funeral services will be at the First United Methodist Church, Athens, at 1 p.m., Monday, January 21.
The family requests that in lieu of flowers, donations be made in Colonel Pound's memory to the First United Methodist Church in Athens.

Online condolences may be offered at www.bernsteinfuneralhome.com

Bernstein Funeral Home, Athens, is in charge of arrangements.