Dr. Arwin Adelbert Dougal, 85, husband, father, professor of engineering, and pilot died on July 30, 2012 in Austin, Texas. Arwin will be remembered for his intellect, curiosity, respectful manner and mentoring of family and students.
Arwin was born in the farming community of Dunlap, Iowa in the Loess Hills of the Missouri River Valley on November 22, 1926, the second of three sons of Adelbert Isaac Dougal and Goldya White Dougal. He grew up during the Great Depression, and the need to be resourceful and conscientious permeated his life and character. As a youth, Arwin was an inquisitive boy and assiduous reader of books on adventure, biography, documentary and scientific matters. In high school he built a "pre-vacuum tube" radio receiver. In 1939 he first flew in an airplane, and his love of flying and electronics would shape much of his life.

In 1943, Arwin graduated from the Everly Consolidated School in the midst of the global conflict of WWII. He excelled at the national electronics examination known as the Eddy Test, and in 1946 enlisted in the US Army Air Corps where he worked on the then secret air force RADAR and TELERAN equipment. While in the service Arwin gained valuable knowledge of the workings of electronics and made lifetime professional connections and friendships.

In 1949, following his military service, Arwin began studying electrical engineering at Iowa State University and completed his Bachelor of Science degree after only three years. While in college Arwin met, courted and, on September 3, 1951, married Margaret Jane ("Peggy") McLennan, his lifelong love and companion. Arwin earned his Masters of Science and Doctor of Philosophy in Electrical Engineering from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. In 1961, he joined the Electrical Engineering Department at the University of Texas where he taught for 30 years until he retired and was honored to be named a Professor Emeritus.
Arwin's dedication to teaching has been acknowledged by numerous awards, including the Teaching Excellence Award from the UT Students Association, the Outstanding Graduate Advisor Award, the Distinguished Advisor Award, and the Professional Achievement Citation in Engineering from the Iowa State University Alumni Association. He also relished the accomplishments and awards achieved by his many former research students.
Arwin served in many notable positions including: Director of the UT Electronics Research Center, Assistant Director of Defense Research and Engineering for the Office of the Secretary of Defense at the Pentagon in Washington D.C., and Elder of Covenant Presbyterian Church. Arwin was named a Fellow in the Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers (IEEE) for his contributions to the theory and teaching of plasma science and physical electronics. He served as a national Director of IEEE, Director of IEEE Region 5, and Chairman of the Central Texas Section of the IEEE. He was a Texas Registered Professional Engineer. He was also a named a Fellow of the American Physical Society.
Arwin loved flying and the precision and complexity of the radios, navigation instruments and electronics of airplanes. He respected the dangers of flight, understood the capricious nature of weather, and was a careful pilot. He owned many airplanes during his life, including an aluminum Luscombe, an aerobatic Pitts Special, a Volksplane and assorted Cessna Skyhawks. He built a private hanger at the San Marcos Airport, and his ground-lease was carefully worded to ensure he could also discretely store his boat, Airstream trailer, and the many books and records of his professional life.
In the 20 years since his retirement, Arwin and Peggy spent their winters at Key Allegro in Rockport Texas, where they attended the First Presbyterian Church and were members of the Rockport Yacht Club.

He is survived by his wife Peggy; brother Maurice Dougal of Spirit Lake, Iowa; children Catherine Covington and husband Bryan; Roger Dougal and wife Jodi and daughter Kara of Columbia, South Carolina; Leonard Dougal and wife Diane and children Evan, Ross and Leigh; and Laura Davis and husband Robert and children Zachary and Seth of Elgin. His adult grandchildren are Beth Covington Crawford and husband Taylor; Bradley Covington and wife Nicole; Amanda Davis Haisler and husband Dustin; and Christina Davis Green and husband Caleb. He is also survived by 10 great-grandchildren.
A memorial service will be held Friday, August 3, 2012 at 11:00 a.m. at Covenant Presbyterian Church, 3003 Northland Drive, Austin, Texas with a reception to follow. Private burial with military honors prior to the memorial service in Austin Memorial Park.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial donations be made to the "Friends of Alec" at The University of Texas, 301 E. Dean Keeton, C2104, Austin, TX 78712-0287 to support electrical engineering students at the Cockrell School of Engineering.