Long time App State Professor Dr. Jim Avant passed away today at the age of 80. He taught swimming, lifeguarding and CPR/First Aid.
Arrangements are incomplete and I will post them here when they are updated.
http://www.austinandbarnesfuneralhome.c ... ?name=1014
Dr. Jim Avant 1932-2013
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appst89
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Re: Dr. Jim Avant 1932-2013
Sorry to hear that. I was a four-year employee of the Intramural Dept. during my time in Boone.
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Watauga72
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Re: Dr. Jim Avant 1932-2013
Very sorry to hear this. Dr. Avant was a good man. I met him while reffing intramural b-ball and was he was always nice.
Last edited by Watauga72 on Mon Feb 25, 2013 7:27 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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brocktune90
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Re: Dr. Jim Avant 1932-2013
He was an inspiring instructor for my swimming class. He got everyone in the class to dive off of the high dive and do a back flip off of the diving board.
The final was to swim a mile. He counted off laps, "Do 20 freestyle." Then "13 backstroke.." etc. After everyone had finished, he asked if anyone had kept track of how many laps to make sure we each made it a mile. No one had. He said "Congrats. You all just swam 1.25 miles. Everyone has passed the exam."
He is one of my favorite memories of my time at App. Thank you Dr. Avant. You inspire me still.
The final was to swim a mile. He counted off laps, "Do 20 freestyle." Then "13 backstroke.." etc. After everyone had finished, he asked if anyone had kept track of how many laps to make sure we each made it a mile. No one had. He said "Congrats. You all just swam 1.25 miles. Everyone has passed the exam."
He is one of my favorite memories of my time at App. Thank you Dr. Avant. You inspire me still.
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SpeedkingATL
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Re: Dr. Jim Avant 1932-2013
I worked with Dr Avant for 2 years in the intramural dept in the 70's and have a world of respect for the man. I learned a lot from him that made me a better person.
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kiddbrewer
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scatman77
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Re: Dr. Jim Avant 1932-2013
Wow...that is sad news. Last time I saw Dr. Avant was around 2007 at a campus function in Holmes. He had shaved his head bald and as was stated in another post, a firm handshake awaited and was happily received. RIP Dr. Avant.
We don't slide at Appalachian State. It's a sign of weakness.
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bh2oson
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Re: Dr. Jim Avant 1932-2013
I had a long conversation with Dr Avant back in the late eighties as I was filming the Intramural flag football championship at the stadium. I had forgotten to turn off the mic on the camera so everyone involved in that game (I think it was Capt Crunchers vs Nike) also got to hear the conversation, captured forever on VHS. RIP.
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GoAppsGo92
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AppState89
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Re: Dr. Jim Avant 1932-2013
He was a GREAT man....I/He always said hey to each other at the ASU football games since 1989...I really like Dr. Avant a lot. He was almost like a father to a lot of people at ASU.
This is hanging on my wall at work and has been there since I left ASU. This is very special to me.
This is hanging on my wall at work and has been there since I left ASU. This is very special to me.
AppState89 AKA Robert Martin 
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Robert Norton
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Re: Dr. Jim Avant 1932-2013
I knew Dr. Avant a little from a couple of meetings when we were on a committee. Later when Bob Matheson went into our Watauga Sports HOF I got to know Jim and his wife Barbara (Bob's sister) very well. They always came to subsequent inductions and I really got to know him well. My lasting memory of him is him running around Boone with his 2 black Labs no matter the weather.