In Memoriam: Thomas J. Hixon, PhD

Abstract

With the passing of Thomas J. Hixon, we have lost a premier scientist, an outstanding teacher and mentor, and a distinguished university administrator. He passed away on March 21, 2009, in Tucson, Arizona. Hixon was educated at Bloomsburg University in Pennsylvania (Bachelor of Science) and the University of Iowa (Master of Arts and Doctor of Philosophy). He did postdoctoral work in physiology at Harvard University. Hixon held faculty appointments at the University of Wisconsin-Madison (1965–1976) and the University of Arizona (1976 until his death). Hixon and his colleagues developed and refined innovative laboratory methods, systematized clinical assessment and intervention for speech and voice disorders, and advanced the understanding of respiratory, laryngeal, and supralaryngeal aspects of speech and song. He authored more than 100 scientific publications, including several articles in the Journal of Voice, and also wrote several books (among them are Respiratory Function in Speech and Song, Respiratory Function in Singing: A Primer for Singers and Singing Teachers, Evaluation and Management of Speech Breathing Disorders: Principles and Methods, and Preclinical Speech Science: Anatomy, Physiology, Acoustics, and Perception). A popular keynote speaker, he gave addresses to the National Association of Teachers of Singing, Pacific Voice Conference, Voice Foundation, British Voice Association, Canadian Voice Care Foundation, Australian National Association of Teachers of Singing, and the Swedish Royal Institute of Technology. Hixon was Editor of the Journal of Speech and Hearing Research (1974–1978) and Editor of the Speech Section of the Journal of Speech, Language, and Hearing Research (2002–2005). His administrative service at Arizona included: head of the Department of Speech and Hearing Sciences, Dean of the Graduate College, Associate Vice President for Research and Graduate Studies, and Director of Graduate Interdisciplinary Programs. Hixon received a number of awards from the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) as well as from other organizations. He was elected a Fellow of the ASHA in 1977, received the Honors of the ASHA in 1995, and was the recipient of ASHA's Kawana Award in 2007. The last award is given in recognition of sustained scientific contributions. He is survived by his wife and scientific collaborator, Jeannette Hoit, and his children, Todd and Kimberly.