William R. Black

William R. Black, Age 71, of Bloomington IN., Indiana University Professor Emeritus, died suddenly in his home early Tuesday morning due to complications from cancer. He was born June 8, 1942, in Brownsville Pennsylvania, and was the son of Thomas D. and Dorothy (Hileman) Black. He received his BS degree from California State College in 1964 and M.A. (1966) and his PhD. (1969) in Geography from the University of Iowa. He joined the faculty of the Department of Geography, at Indiana University in 1969. He was given a joint appointment to the School of Public and Environmental Affairs in 1973. He was promoted to Professor of Geography and Public and Environmental Affairs in 1977. During his tenure at Indiana University he served as the director of Center for Urban Affairs (1973-1973) and the director of the Center for Urban and Regional Analysis (1973-1978). He was also the Chairman of the Department of Geography from 1985-1989 and again from 2003-2007. During his career he also was on the faculty of Miami University in Oxford Ohio (1968-1968) and Purdue University (1973). He was technical director of the transit study that led to the creation of the Bloomington Transit in 1972. In 1973 he became involved in the railroad reorganization following the bankruptcy of several national railroads. He served at the Director of Rail Planning for the State of Indiana (1974-1975). During a leave of absence from the university he served in the activation task force of the Consolidated Rail Corporation (Conrail) in Philadelphia (1975-1976). He was also named Director of the Indiana Department of Transportation and served on the Transportation Coordinating Board in 1980. He was active in the Association of American Geographers (AAG) and the Transportation Research Board (TRB) of the National Research Council (NRC). He chaired the Transport Geography Specialty Group of the AAG (1980-1982) and the Social and Economic Factors Committee of the TRB (1996-2002). He was the editor of the journal Regional Science Perspectives (1972-1973) and the Journal of Transport Geography (1995-1998). He served on several national conference and project panels during his career. Black was the recipient of the Meritorious Achievement Award from California State College in 1980. He was also named a Sagamore of the Wabash for the Public Service to the State of Indiana by Governor Otis R. Bowen in 1980. He received the AAG Edward L. Ullman award in 2000. He also received a Distinguished Service Award from the TRB/ NRC in 2002 and was named an Emeritus member of the organization in 2005. During his career at Indiana University he directed more than 20 transportation research projects. Black was the author of more 200 research papers and reports. He was coauthor of two books and coeditor of Social Change and Sustainable Transportation (2002). He was the author of 4 books: Railroad for Rent, a study of the federal local rail service assistance act (1986), Transportation: A Geographical Analysis, a textbook in the field of transport geography (2003), Sustainable Transport: Problems and Solutions (2010) ; Dispatches from the World, The Life of Percival Phillips, War Correspondent (2012), a biography of Percival Phillips; and Philander Chase Knox, not yet published. He is survived by his wife of 50 years, Donna Frazzitta Black and three children: Tracy L. Black (Mark Estelle) of San Diego, California; Richard J. Black (Tracy Gramza) of Arlington Heights, Illinois and Eric T. Black (Alana Siniard) of Bloomington, Indiana. He is also survived by one sister, Nancy J. Bennett of Brownsville Pennsylvania, a half-sister, Judy Young of Butler, Pennsylvania and eight grandchildren: Aidan B. Estelle and Mackenzie J.B. Estelle of San Diego, California; Sr. Airman Shaun M. Black, USAF Holloman AFB; Thomas A. Black and Ryan J. Black of Bloomington, Indiana; and Natalie P. Black, Sara E. Black and Leah A. Black of Arlington Heights, Illinois; sister in law Marie Moninger of Silver Springs, Maryland and several nephews and nieces. At the request of the deceased there will be no viewing or memorial service. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made in his name to one of the following: IU Health Proton Therapy Center Pediatric Goodwill Fund ATTN: Marketing and Development 2425 N Milo B Sampson Lane Bloomington, IN 47408-1398 or Cardiopulmonary Rehabilitation Bloomington Hospital Foundation PO Box 1149 Bloomington IN 47402 Allen Funeral Home 4155 South Old Highway 37 is handling the arrangements and online condolences may be sent to the family at www.allenfuneralhome.

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William R. Black

June 8, 1942 - October 15, 2013