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Professor Louis Robert Fonss Preysz III loved academia, his children, his students, his many books, his country, the Army, the family’s Spinone Italiano dogs, his wife of 30 years, Patricia, and above all, his God.
Born 1 August 1944, in Quantico to a Marine father, Lou grew up in the suburbs of Chicago where he attended Evanston Township High School. The University of Wisconsin, Madison provided his undergraduate experience where he earned a bachelor of arts degree in communications/ radio, television & film in 1968. In June 1968 Lou entered military service, completing Army Basic Training and Advanced Individual Training in the Infantry at Fort Dix, N.J. Pursuant upon completing this initial military training, as a SP5, Lou opted for Engineer Officer Candidate School at Fort Belvoir, where he commissioned as a 2nd LT., Quartermaster Corps, August 1969. After serving in the Rheinland Pfalz District and Kaiserslautern, Germany, Lou was released from active duty as a captain in March 1972.
After four years of active duty, Lou opted to return to the U.S. where he attended graduate school at the University of Utah, earning his masters of business administration degree in management and marketing. He began his successful banking career at several communitysized banks, as well as two regional banks, today known as SunTrust and AmSouth. Lou remained in banking for 15 years, where he became vice president and marketing manager at Sun Bank/ Orlando. While in banking, Lou graduated from the Stonier Graduate School of Banking, the oldest banking school in America. During this time he taught adjunct at the University of Central Florida, St. Ambrose in Iowa, Columbia College in Missouri, and the Florida Institute of Technology.
With a break in service from 1976 to 1982, Lou reentered the U. S. Army Reserve in Orlando, Fla. He was an instructor of leadership at Officer Candidate School during the summers of 1987 to 1990, as well as at the Florida Military Academy.
He transferred to the State Area Command (STARC) of the Florida Army National Guard in St. Augustine, Fla., where he served in a variety of positions as auditor in the Internal Review Division, United States Property and Fiscal Office, the Support Personnel Management Office (DSCPER), Education Office and State Quartermaster. He then successfully pursued a Warrant Officer track to the grade of CW5, having served for an additional 21 years, 1983-2004.
His military education includes graduation from Command and General Staff College, Personnel Administration Officer Advanced Course, and the United States Army Warrant Officer Staff Course. Preysz’s military awards include the Overseas Service Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Army Achievement Medal, Army Reserve Components Achievement Medal, Army Service Ribbon, Armed Forces Reserve Medal, The Florida Cross, Florida Meritorious Service Ribbon, Florida Service Ribbon, Florida Governor’s Meritorious Unit Citation and the Florida Service Medal.
While teaching adjunct, the classroom proved a strong pull, and Lou moved to a fulltime teaching position in the Business and Economics Department at Flagler College in St. Augustine, Florida in 1982, where he taught in the management and marketing disciplines. It was while he was teaching at Flagler College, he “had found the one my soul loves,” (from Song of Solomon 3:4) Patricia Dianne Yelland who captured his heart as well as that of his beloved students at Flagler. They were married lakeside at the Cornell Fine Arts Museum at Rollins College in Winter Park, Fla., in 1993. Patricia took an avid interest in the many Society of the Advancement of Management’s (SAM) case competitions, and proudly cheered them on when they would compete against other colleges and universities throughout the years.
During Professor Preysz’s 26-year career on Flagler’s faculty, he served as assistant, then associate professor in management and marketing until his retirement in the summer of 2008, when he was awarded the title of Associate Professor Emeritus. Highlighting his career, and of unparalleled achievement, the Flagler College Chapter of the Society for Advancement of Management under the leadership of Professor Preysz, won eight national management case championships (no other school had won more than two at that time), resulting in the Chapter being named, “Outstanding SAM Chapter in the Nation” seven out of eight years. On six occasions, Professor Preysz was named, “Outstanding Sam Advisor in the Nation”. Additionally, Professor Preysz brought inspirational mentorship to the Flagler men’s basketball team as chaplain for a number of years.
In 2008 Lou and Patricia, along with their much-adored Italian Spinone, moved to Lou’s home state of Virginia, to the Blue Ridge Mountains and the Shenandoah Valley to make their home in historic Lexington, where they built their dream home on three acres of woods. Lou believed that when you combine academics and scholarship with practical experience, as well as a bit of humor, the student benefits the most. Thus, Lou welcomed the opportunity to both take on an adjunct professorship in the Virginia Military Institute’s business and economics department as well as assuming oversight of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA) organization. These two avenues over a 10-year period, kept Lou’s passion for mentoring students alive and flourishing. Through these years, while very active and committed to the Corps of Cadets, the VMI Chaplain’s ministry, this couple routinely opened their home to lovingly host and care for VMI cadets and athletes.
In 2010 Professor Preysz was diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease. Together Lou and Patricia relentlessly battled this aggressive disease. Lou’s ruthless pursuit of physical fitness, sustained exercise and diet coupled with Patricia’s tireless 24/7 care which described their life during this time, served to inspire the many who loved and supported them. Their resilient, proven faith in Jesus Christ sustained them through this unusually difficult time of life. Lou peacefully and victoriously departed this life into the Lord’s certain presence on Sunday morning, July 9.
Professor Preysz is survived by the love of his life, Patricia, his Italian Spinone, Hazel, as well as four children, Louie IV, Christine (Fogarty), Mike and Dan as well as seven grandchildren, two sisters, Carole and Marsha, as well as a brother, Jim.
Professor Louis Robert Preysz III will receive military honors at an internment ceremony held at Arlington National Cemetery at a time yet to be determined.
Arrangements were handled by Harrison Funeral Home and Cremation Services. N-G
