GREENSBORO - Dr. Isaac Barnett, 86, died May 30, 2010, at his home in Greensboro, NC.
Family visitation is 10 a.m. and funeral service 11 a.m. at the A&T Alumni-Foundation Event Center, on the campus of North Carolina A&T State University, Saturday, June 5, 2010, with final disposition at Dan River Bethel Baptist Church Cemetery, South Boston, Virginia.
He was born April 1, 1924, to the late Alexander and Lottie Lipscomb Barnett in South Boston, VA. He married Dr. Dorothy Prince Barnett in 1977.
Dr. Barnett graduated from the Halifax County Schools. His B.S. and M.S. degrees were received from North Carolina A&T State University and he earned the doctorate at Michigan State University, East Lansing, Mich. He was employed at A&T for 43 years, retired in 1990 and later joined the ranks of only a few by being named Professor Emeritus. Prior to retirement, Dr. Barnett served as Professor and Chairman of the Department of Safety and Driver Education and Occupational Safety and Health, and he established the two majors out of his belief that society paid too awesome a price for lack of education in the science of safe driving and occupational safety. His programs became models for many colleges and universities. In early 1970, he initiated the Masters and Bachelor's degree programs in Safety and Driver Education at A&T. In 1978, he initiated and established the Bachelor's Degree Program in Occupational Safety and Health-a first in the nation. He was author and director of several funded proposals totaling nearly $1 million; principal investigator and developer of the Interdisciplinary Approach to Teaching Safety utilizing driver education concepts to improve high school pupils' performance in biology, chemistry, mathematics, physics, etc. The NC Department of Public Instruction adopted this innovative approach as a method of instruction for the public schools.
He had many professional experiences and achievements that included: The National Safety Council's "Distinguished Service Award to Safety" (an award received the following year by Elizabeth Dole, former Secretary of Labor). He was listed by the US Department of Transportation, National Highway Safety Administration as one of the top four safety educators in the nation and received various awards and appointments from four North Carolina Governors. He served as Assistant Professor at Eastern Michigan University; consultant, Michigan Department of State; and Director and developer of a videotape training program for upgrading Michigan's Driver License Personnel.
Dr. Barnett's professional affiliations and memberships were numerous and included the Department of Social Services (Board); the White House Initiative to the Presidents Committee on Traffic Safety; Guilford County Transportation Efficiency Council; and the NC Driver License Task Force (appointed by Governor James B. Martin); He served on the Guilford County Nursing Home Community Advisory Committee and was President of his Community Home Association. He was an A&T Sports Hall of Famer and a member of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity.
His publications included: "Interdisciplinary Concepts Curriculum Materials, Resource Book;" "Police Officer in the Driver Education Classroom;" "Traffic Safety, An Approach to Understanding: Problem Solving Situations in Safety and Driver Education;" and co-authored, "Ideas, Issues and Readings in Safety Education."
Surviving is his devoted wife, Dorothy Prince Barnett, several nieces, nephews, family members and friends.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Lynch-Ramseur Endowed Scholarship Fund in care of the A&T Division of University Advancement, 1601 E. Market Street, Greensboro, NC 27411.
Hinnant Funeral Service is assisting the Barnett Family.
www.hinnantfuneralservice.com
