Lipscomb mourns the loss of longtime professor Paul Langford
Kim Chaudoin |
The Lipscomb community is mourning the loss of Paul Langford, a retiree of Lipscomb University and chemistry professor for 33 years, who died Friday, Aug. 30, at age 94.
Funeral services will be conducted Friday, Sept. 6 at 10 a.m. at Crieve Hall Church of Christ in Nashville, with visitation at the church from 9-10 a.m. Visitation will also take place on Thursday, Sept. 5 from 4-7 p.m. at Woodbine Funeral Home-Hickory Chapel in Nashville.
For nearly half a century, Langford inspired and mentored Lipscomb University students who dreamed of entering medical professions or pursuing careers in chemistry.
A native of Lockesburg, Arkansas, Langford joined the Lipscomb faculty in 1962 as an assistant professor of chemistry. He taught at Lipscomb for 33 years, rising to the rank of full professor and serving as chair of the Department of Chemistry from 1980 until he retired from teaching in 1994. In 1973, then-Lipscomb president A.C. Pullias established the Premedical Advisory Committee and appointed Langford as chair, a position he also held until 1994.
Under his leadership, and in collaboration with other visionary Lipscomb science faculty, Lipscomb’s reputation for excellence in premedical education became widely recognized. Medical school acceptances annually surpassed — often by great margins — the national averages of the day. Langford’s dedication and personal mentorship guided many students into medical, dental, pharmacy, veterinary, nursing, optometry, podiatry, chiropractic, physical therapy, and other allied health schools. His students often described him as a caring, thorough, and careful scientist whose instruction, wisdom, counsel, encouragement, influence, kindness and ready smile were essential to their faith, and their success in academics and in life. Following his retirement from teaching, Langford continued to help recruit science majors by working part-time in the university’s admissions office from 1995 to 2011.
“Quite simply, Dr. Paul Langford is a consummate Christian gentleman,” said Kent Clinger, who served as professor in Lipscomb’s Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry for more than 25 years and today serves as adjunct professor. “He had a quiet dignity with a kind demeanor. It is no wonder that everyone loves him — he has said virtually nothing but kind words to anyone. If Dr. Langford had to express some difficult news or had something to say that was in disagreement with another person, it was usually cloaked with humor.”
“Beloved by his students, his most lasting professional contribution will likely be the hundreds of physicians and other health care professionals that he taught and the establishment of the Lipscomb Health Professions Advisory Committee,” he continued.
Watch a video tribute to Dr. Langford from the 2022 J.S. Ward Society dinner.
In honor of his impact on generations of students, in April 2022 Langford was named the Ward Society Hero of Science for that year and was recognized at the annual J.S. Ward Society dinner, hosted by the College of Liberal Arts & Sciences. At the dinner, the establishment of the Paul B. Langford Endowed Professorship in Chemistry was also announced.
The Paul B. Langford Endowed Professorship in Chemistry was established by former students who provided initial funding for the scholarship. The purpose of the scholarship is to recognize Langford’s scholarship, spiritual leadership, friendship, profound influence in the lives of students and elevation of Lipscomb University’s academic reputation and prestige. The distinction of the Langford Professorship will be bestowed upon a faculty member who is selected based on achievements in teaching, performance and research.
Langford earned his Ph.D. in organic chemistry from the Georgia Institute of Technology and undergraduate and master’s degrees from Oklahoma State University.
Langford is survived by his daughter, Beth; grandson, Adam (Michelle) Sisk; son-in-law, Michael Sisk; and nephew, John (Barbara) Miles. He is preceded in death by his wife, Beverly, who worked in Lipscomb University’s Career Center for 19 years. In lieu of flowers, donations may be given to the Langford-Yates Fellowship at Lipscomb University.