Jan List Boal, ME 54, MS AMath 54, not only graduated first in his class at Tech, he also concurrently earned the Institute’s first-ever master’s of science degree in mathematics. Boal died on Jan. 16 in Atlanta.
He went on to earn his PhD in math from MIT and taught the subject at the University of South Carolina. During that stint, he received NSF-USAID grants to improve the teaching skills of math professors in India.
He returned to Atlanta in 1969 to become chair of the Math Department at Georgia State University. Later, he and his wife, Bobby, purchased the Veranda Bed & Breakfast Inn. It was highlighted in a variety of publications, which showed off the inn’s massive collection of kaleidoscopes. It also became a favorite of movie producers and actors, including Kathy Bates and Elijah Wood.
After a retiring from the Inn in 2006, the couple opened the Kaleidoscope Shop, where Boal was renowned for calling out to visitors, “Welcome! Welcome! We’re so glad to see you! Come on in!”
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Jan was also active in the Baptist Student Union while at Tech.