Trinity Remembers Ronald Prather

Ronald “Ron” Eugene Prather, Caruth Distinguished Professor Emeritus of Computing and Information Science, passed away on January 9 in Hendersonville, Tennessee. He was 91.

Born on October 18, 1933, in Peoria, Illinois, Ron was a beloved husband, father, and educator, as well as a dedicated scholar. He began his academic career as a mathematician and professor at the University of Denver before transitioning to computer science. He later joined the faculty at Trinity University, where he achieved the esteemed title of Caruth Distinguished Professor of Computing and Information Science. He taught at Trinity until his retirement in 1999.

Ron was a prolific author, penning numerous academic papers and several books, including Discrete Mathematical Structures for Computer Science (1976), Problem-Solving Principles: Programming with Pascal (1982), and Alec Wilder: A Bio-Bibliography (1993). He contributed deep knowledge to mathematical theory in computer science, program and software testing, and software complexity.

He also combined his love of music with his academic work, establishing a computer and music curriculum at Trinity University and creating the Structured Musical Language (SML), a technique for encoding musical scores in a clear way. He was a dedicated supporter of Alec Wilder's music, and one of his proudest achievements was his lengthy scholarly article, “The Popular Songs of Alec Wilder,” published in The Musical Quarterly. 

Beyond his academic pursuits, Ron was a man of diverse interests. An avid sports fan, he cheered for his Cal Bears (University of California, Berkeley) and the San Francisco 49ers with unwavering enthusiasm. He possessed a deep appreciation for music, particularly jazz and big band, and was a devoted fan of the Beatles. 

Ron was known for his intelligence, kindness, wit, and his ever-present appreciation for a good pun. He had a tremendous influence on those close to him, both personally and professionally. He will be deeply missed by his family, friends, colleagues, and all who knew him.

He is survived by his loving wife, Janie Wilson; his son, John Prather; and his daughter, Marianne Lawless, both from his previous marriage to Jacqueline Prather. He was preceded in death by his daughter, Karin, who passed away before John and Marianne were born. 

A Rite of Committal was held on January 29, 2025, at the Meditation Columbarium of Spring Hill Cemetery in Nashville. To stay updated on the establishment of a Trinity University scholarship in Ron's name, please contact @email for future announcements.