William A. Veech ’60
William A. Veech ’60, professor of mathematics at Rice University, died unexpectedly on August 30, 2016, in Houston. He was born on Christmas Eve in 1938 in Detroit. Bill graduated from Lincoln High School in Pleasant Ridge, Michigan, before entering Dartmouth, where he majored in mathematics, graduating in 1960 and subsequently earning his Ph.D. in mathematics in 1963 from Princeton University. In 1969 he joined the faculty of Rice University, where he served as chair of the mathematics department for several years before being honored with two endowed chairs during the last 15 years of his most distinguished career. Bill believed in the importance of developing one’s unique perspective: all of his more than 60 published papers were single-authored and displayed a characteristic blend of dynamics, geometry and deep analytic technique, often resulting in the transformation of whole subjects. He was an inaugural fellow of the American Mathematics Society. Bill was known at Rice University as a generous mentor and great friend to students and colleagues. He is survived by his wife of 50 years, Kathryn (“Kay”), and daughters Kathryn and Maude. A funeral service was held September 7, 2016, in Metter, Georgia, where Bill was laid to rest in the family plot.
