On January 16, 2002, an on-campus shooting at the Appalachian School of Law in Grundy, Virginia, killed 41-year-old associate professor Thomas Francis Blackwell. He was one of three people fatally shot that day; the others were the school’s dean, Anthony Sutin, and a student, Angela Dales. Blackwell was a native of Texas, a University of Texas at Arlington graduate who earned his law degree at Duke University School of Law.

He practiced law in Dallas and had taught at other institutions before joining the Appalachian School of Law. He was active in the Grundy community, serving on the boards of Buchanan Neighbors United and the Technology Committee of the Buchanan County Chamber of Commerce, and he belonged to Buchanan First Presbyterian Church. The shooter, student Peter Odighizuwa, was taken into custody after the attack and charged in connection with multiple killings and shootings; later legal proceedings resulted in guilty pleas and prison terms.

Does anyone who knew Tom Blackwell or his work at the law school have memories or information to share?