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John Wesley Tunnell Jr.
May 02, 1945 - July 14, 2018

John Wesley (“Wes”) Tunnell, Jr., 73, passed away on July 14, 2018. He wanted family, friends, and colleagues to know that he just received the ultimate upgrade into God’s Heavenly Kingdom. Wes was born on 2 May 1945 to John W. Tunnell, M.D. and Rosalie Newman Tunnell, M.D. in Biloxi, Mississippi, while his father, who was from Gregory, Texas, was serving in the U.S. Army Air Force at Keesler Field during WW II. Wes was raised in Taft, Texas, and received his B.S. (1967) and M.S. (1969) degrees in Biology from Texas A&I University (now Texas A&M University-Kingsville), and his Ph.D. in Biology (1974) from Texas A&M University. He served in the U.S Army for two years (1969-71) at Fort Baker, California.

Wes married his childhood sweetheart Kathryn (Kathy) Lea Aldridge on 4 June 1966, and they had three children: Stephanie Patterson (Steve) of Forney, Jace Wesley Tunnell (Kathryn) of Corpus Christi, and James William Tunnell (Gerri) of Austin. Wes and Kathy had five grandchildren: Chelsea (Stephanie), Jack and Parker (Jace), and Wesley and William (James). Annual family gatherings each summer and during the holidays were special times for all.

Tunnell started (1974) and ended (2018) his career at Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi (TAMUCC), where he was Professor of Biology in the Life Sciences Department and Endowed Chair of Biodiversity and Conservation Science at the Harte Research Institute for Gulf of Mexico Studies. Tunnell was a marine ecologist and biologist focusing primarily on coastal and coral reef ecosystems. Although he did most of his field research in Texas and Mexico, he traveled extensively for engagement and presentation in over 35 countries.

Tunnell advised or co-advised 71 M.S. students, 7 Ph.D. students, and 4 post-doctoral research associates. For 32 years, he taught a Coral Reef Ecology class, taking students on two-week field trips to Veracruz or the Mexican Caribbean as part of an international teaching and research program. This was one of 18 classes he taught over the course of his career.

Tunnell published 114 peer-reviewed manuscripts and 76 technical reports, 7 books, and received 154 research grants and contracts worth more than $20 million. He was also editor of two book series for Texas A&M University Press. He received numerous awards and served on many professional and community service boards and councils.

His parents, mentioned above, preceded him in death, and his wife and all of his children and grandchildren, also mentioned above, survive him.

There will be a memorial service and a celebration of life reception on July 28, 2018 at 11:00 a.m. at St. John’s United Methodist Church in Corpus Christi, Texas. The family requests that in lieu of flowers, please send donations to the Dr. Wes Tunnell Gulf of Mexico Fellowship Program (giving.tamucc.edu and designate Harte Research Institute with special instructions to “Dr. Wes Tunnell Fellowship”). The Endowed Fellowship supports graduate students pursuing degrees at the Harte Research Institute for Gulf of Mexico Studies.


SERVICES

Memorial Service
Saturday, July 28, 2018
11:00 AM - 12:00 PM

St. Johns United Methodist
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Corpus Christi, Texas 78412
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Beloved Texas A&M-University Corpus Christi biology professor, Wes Tunnell, dies

David Sikes, Corpus Christi Caller Times Published 5:27 p.m. CT July 14, 2018

The scientific community is mourning the death of John “Wes” Tunnell, a marine ecologist and biologist, historian, author and early orchestrator of the Harte Research Institute for Gulf of Mexico Studies at Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi.

Tunnell died Saturday after a long battle with cancer. He was 73.

A celebration of his life is scheduled for July 28 at a Corpus Christi location to be determined later.

“Wes Tunnell was the soul of the Harte Research Institute,” said Larry McKinney, the institute’s executive director. “World renown ocean explorer and advocate, Sylvia Earle, was the inspiration and Ed Harte the visionary, but Wes was the one to put it all together and make HRI a reality. All that HRI is today is his legacy."

Among his students at A&M Corpus Christi, Tunnell was beloved and was famous for forging mentor relationships with graduate students that extended into their professional careers.

Tunnell always said he put students first throughout his career, helping to develop new degree programs and offering many and varied classes, usually involving field trips to warm waters.

Tunnell taught a Coral Reef Ecology class for 32 years, taking students on field trips to Veracruz or the Mexican Caribbean as part of an international teaching and research program. He was known for conducting class from the deck of a boat and lecturing in scuba gear.

Tunnell assisted in the development of two bachelor degree programs, along with four masters programs and two doctoral programs. He was instrumental in establishing seven graduate student scholarships at the Center for Coastal Studies, and he advised or co-advised 71 master’s students, seven Ph.D. students, and four post-doctoral research associates.

“Wes was a true academic inspiration and mentor to literally thousands of students, including many of my contemporaries and countless local scientists,” said Greg Stunz, director of the Center for Sportfish Science and Conservation and endowed chair for Fisheries and Ocean Health at the Harte Research Institute. “He taught the most popular and iconic course at A&M-Corpus, coral reef ecology. Students from around the world came to the university to take his course, which ended up driving many students into marine sciences as a career path."

Former students said Tunnell was the most engaging and personal professor they encountered during their studies. He could enthusiastically fuel passions for marine biology, while satisfying curiosities and making students believe anything was possible.

“Wes Tunnell changed my life,” said Teressa Carrillo, a former graduate student who went on to become a biologist with the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, executive director of the Coastal Bend Bays Foundation and research scientist at A&M-Corpus Christi’s Center for Coastal Studies, which Tunnell established. “I was a stay-at-home mom with two small boys when I returned to school to finish my degree. Wes sat me down and together we set my life’s course. I’ll never forget the field trips. And along the way, we learned to appreciate not just science, but the very fabric of the natural world. He helped us see how all the pieces fit together. But mostly I’ll never forget that he believed in me.”

Local biologists, Robert and Mary Ellen Vega have similar fond memories of Tunnell and his class, where they met. Robert Vega is Texas Parks & Wildlife's Coastal Hatcheries program leader, while his wife went on to become a professional biologist with parks and wildlife and the U.S. Fish & Wildlife, and now operates an environmental consulting firm.

"We met as graduate students in Dr. Tunnell's class and by the end of the semester we were married," Vega said. "When we told him we got married he gave us a gift certificate to a fancy restaurant and plenty of hugs. He was an amazing blessing to two poor grad students. We considered him our friend and lifelong mentor. We'll miss him dearly."

Fellow retired marine biology professor and author David McKee said Tunnell enjoyed a impeccable reputation as the quiet and studious quintessential scientist, and a firm but fair professor.

"He helped many local scientists achieve their goals," McKee said. "And I was one of them."

Tunnell wrote numerous books. The most notable were The Laguna Madre of Texas and Tamaulipas, Coral Reefs of the Southern Gulf of Mexico, Encyclopedia of Texas Seashells, Texas Seashells-A Field Guide, and Pioneering Archaeology of the Texas Coastal Bend — The Pape-Tunnell Collection. All were published by Texas A&M University Press.

He was also editor of two book series for Texas A&M University Press: Gulf Coast Books, with 31 titles; and the Harte Research Institute for Gulf of Mexico Studies Series, with 14 titles.

Tunnell retired from the university in 2013 but continued to work part-time for the Harte Research Institute, writing/editing books and garnering research grants, McKinney said.

"Again, many hands made the Harte Institute what it is today,” McKinney said. “But at its foundation, its soul, stands Wes Tunnell, alone.”

Outside of academia, Tunnell had many other interests, including local history, especially as it related to the marine environment, Coastal Bend archaeology, and antique Colt firearms, Bowie knives, beach bottles, and scrimshaw, all from the 19th Century.

Tunnell wrote his own obituary during his long battle with cancer. And in his parting note, he wanted family, friends, and colleagues to know that his death represents the ultimate upgrade into God’s Heavenly Kingdom.

Tunnell was born in Biloxi on May 2, 1945 to John W. Tunnell, M.D. and Rosalie Newman Tunnell, M.D. in Biloxi, Miss, while his father, who was from Gregory, Texas, was serving in the U.S. Army Air Force during World War II. Tunnell was raised in Taft, and received a bachelors of science in 1967 and masters in 1969 from Texas A&I University. He earned a Ph.D. in Biology in 1974 from Texas A&M University. He also studied in Colorado, California, and Florida. Wes was drafted in the military during his academic pursuits, and served in the U.S Army for two years at Fort Baker, CA.

Tunnell married his childhood sweetheart Kathy Lea Aldridge on June 4, 1966, and they had three children: Stephanie Patterson of Forney, Jace Wesley Tunnell of Corpus Christi, and James William Tunnell of Austin. Wes and Kathy had five grandchildren.