Thomas L. Yount Jr., a longtime leader at a global technology firm, died Dec. 2 in Nashville. He was 82.
Yount served with the U.S. Navy in World War II and returned to Tennessee to enter Vanderbilt University. He earned a B.S. in engineering in 1952, graduating with honors.
He worked for Westinghouse Electric Corporation in Pittsburgh before returning to Nashville as general manager of IEI, an electronics company. Next, he served as oresident of ORTEC, a research instrument company in Oak Ridge, Tenn. In 1968 ORTEC was acquired by EG&G of Boston and Yount continued to serve the global technology firm as a senior vice president, retiring in 1983.
Yount was named to the Academy of Distinguished Alumni by the School of Engineering in 1986. He was a devoted supporter of the School. He also had special interest in the Bill Wilkerson Hearing and Speech Center, part of Vanderbilt University since 1997. Yount had keen interest in many conservation causes, serving for several years on the board of the Tennessee Nature Conservancy.
Yount was born in Birmingham, Ala., in 1928. He is survived by his wife, Jane Wilkerson Yount, three daughters , five grandchildren and three great-grandchildren, as well as a brother.
Memorials may be sent to The Vanderbilt Bill Wilkerson Center, Fred H. Bess Chair in Audiology, 1215 21st Ave. S, #6308, Nashville, TN 37232-8718. December 12, 2010, A memorial service will be held Dec. 13 at the First Presbyterian Church in Nashville.