Lt. Col. David Loeser Carson

Lt. Col. David Loeser Carson, 71

Troy David Loeser Carson, 71, died Friday, July 11, 2003 at his home in Troy.

David was born in Norristown, PA and grew up in Carteret, NJ and Lancaster County, PA. As a young man he was a noted soloist in the First Presbyterian Church of Strasburg, PA choir and a radio announcer on Lancaster station, WGAL. He graduated from Franklin & Marshall College, where he participated in ROTC and was ultimately commissioned as an officer and pilot in the United States Air Force. David also obtained his Masters in English from Oklahoma State University and his Ph.D. in English from the University of Delaware. He married Louise Hoover of Strasburg in 1957 and resided in eight states and Germany during his 21 year Air Force career.

During his distinguished Air Force career in which he achieved the rank of Lt. Colonel, Carson served as fighter pilot, test pilot, combat commander, Professor and Director of Communication at the United States Air Force Academy, and Director of Advanced Education for the U.S. Air Force in Europe. As a fighter pilot, he flew the F-80, F-86, F-101, F-102, F-106 and the F-4, flying 185 combat missions in the F-4 out of Danang Air Force Base in Vietnam from 1968-1969. His military honors include the Distinguished Flying Cross, Air Medal, Meritorious Service Award, Presidential Unit Citation, Vietnam Service Medal and Top Gun 30th ADIV.

In 1976 Carson retired from the Air Force to join Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute as Director, Master's Program in Technical Writing and Communication. During his eighteen year career at RPI, he re-launched and enhanced the graduate technical communications programs there, developed the Technical Writing Institute for Teachers, and pioneered an innovative educational partnership with business where RPI graduate technical communication courses were offered on site at Bell Labs. Carson also lectured broadly on the topic of technical communication, and assumed leadership roles in numerous professional organizations, including Chair, National Council Teachers of English, Committee on Technical and Scientific Communication; President, the Society for Technical Communication and participation in The College Conference on Composition and Communication and The Association of Teachers of Technical Writing. He consulted widely with industry, making significant contributions at Pratt & Whitney, Data General, Bell Labs and Cahners Publishing.

For many years Carson edited the BayWood Series in Technical Communication and The Journal of Technical Writing and Communication. He also authored The Professional Writing Handbook (USAFA), Aeronautics (USAFA), and The Bibliography of Textbooks in Technical Communication. Carson wrote prolifically throughout his life, authoring many unpublished literary works, including short stories and poetry. Carson was recognized with many honors during his professional career, including the Distinguished Visiting Scholar in Communication Award, Queensland Institute of Technology, Brisbane, Australia; Fellow, Association of Teachers of Technical Writing; Associate Fellow, Society for Technical Communication and the National Council Teachers of English Book Award.

David is survived by his wife, Louise; his daughter, Kathryn (Raymond) Dorado of Chappaqua, NY and their children, Laura and James; his son, David (Susan) Carson of Strasburg, PA and their children, Nicholas and Natalie; and his son Daniel (Marilyn) Carson of Waterford, NY and their children, Samuel and Kyle. He was active in professional associations at RPI, the Rensselaer County Historical Society and was a member of the Country Club of Troy.

Relatives and friends may call at the Bryce Funeral Home Inc. corner of Pawling at Maple Avenues in Troy on Monday, July 14, 2003 from 4-7pm. A memorial service will be held at The First Presbyterian Church of Strasburg, PA, where the interment will take place. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to The Community Hospice of Rensselaer County 295 Valley View Blvd. Rensselaer, NY 12144 or the American Lung Association 3 Winners Circle Suite 300 Albany, NY 12205-1187.

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