Wayne Gordon Basler Jr.

Wayne Gordon Basler, Jr., 94, formerly of Kingsport, Tennessee, passed away peacefully Friday, August 8, 2025 at Saint Francis Memorial Hospital in Greenville, SC. There will be a service at a later date for family only. His cremains will be interred in Linwood Cemetery, Cedar Rapids, Iowa per his request.

Wayne was born on August 16, 1930 in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, the son of Wayne and Eloise (Klersey) Basler. He graduated from Roosevelt High School in January, 1949 excelling in academics and athletics (football and track). He then went to Iowa State College (now Iowa State University) on an athletic scholarship in football. He graduated in 1953 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Ceramic Engineering. While at Iowa State, he was a member of Keramos, the Ceramic Engineering honorary fraternity, Phi Kappa Psi social fraternity and the Air Force ROTC.

After graduation from college, Wayne went to work for Ford Motor Company in Dearborn, Michigan. He was called to active duty in the Air Force in April, 1954 and was stationed at the Air Research and Development Command, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Dayton, Ohio for two years leaving as a First Lieutenant. He then worked as a research engineer for the Aluminum Company of America (Alcoa) in East St. Louis, Illinois from 1956-1960. From 1960-1972, he was employed by the Glass Division, Ford Motor Company. During his time with Ford, he was a research engineer and glass development manager in Dearborn, Michigan, and production manager at Ford’s glass plant in Nashville, Tennessee. From 1972-1977, Wayne was director of technical development at Guardian Industries, Flat Rock, Michigan. He then became President of Fourco Glass Company, Clarksburg, West Virginia from November, 1977 – February, 1979 when it was combined with ASG Industries to form AFG Industries based in Kingsport, Tennessee. He served as president of AFG Industries until his retirement. After retiring from AFG he continued working as an entrepreneur out of his office in Kingsport, Tennessee. Beginning with his employment at Ford in 1960, he led an engineering team to develop and improve upon the float glass process to manufacture flat glass. As a result of this work, he holds several patents for this manufacturing

process and has led each succeeding company he worked for to becoming leaders in flat glass manufacture. As a result, Iowa State University awarded Wayne the Professional Achievement Citation in Engineering, June, 1989.

Wayne was generous in philanthropy, establishing an athletic scholarship in every women’s sport at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, representing his late wife's support of girls basketball at UT and naming the scholarship in her honor. An endowment of a business and technology chair at East Tennessee State University, Johnson City and a music scholarship in honor of his Mother at Coe College, Cedar Rapids, Iowa, his Mother’s alma mater. Due to his philanthropy at the University of Tennessee, there is the Basler Broadcast Booth above the outdoor track and the Wayne G. Basler Boathouse utilized by the rowing team. He also supported the Northeast Community College in Kingsport, Tennessee as the library has been named in his honor.

To honor Betty Basler, there is the Betty Basler softball field on the campus of East Tennessee State University as she was a talented softball player as a young woman.

In June, 1953 Wayne married his high school sweetheart, Betty Jean Lawrence. She unfortunately passed prematurely July 9, 1992. He was preceded in death by his parents and beloved Betty. He is survived by the three children from this marriage, Eric (Janelle) Basler of Lenoir City, Tennessee, granddaughter Ashley Basler and grandson through marriage Geddy Fuller, Janelle Basler Green(Mike) Green of Pelzer, South Carolina grandson through marriage Michael Green (Caitlyn), great grand Pressley and Stetson, granddaughter through marriage Madeleine Green(Matt) of Statesville NC, and Peter Basler of Mount Olive, Alabama, grandson Ashton Basler Other survivors include his brother, David Basler of Cedar Rapids, Iowa nephews Nathan (Erin) Basler, and Evan (Denise) Basler.

To honor the life of Wayne Basler donations on his behalf can me made to the following organizations:

Pat Summitt Foundation

P.O. Box 31002

Knoxville, Tn 37660

Patsummitt.org

United Way Of Greater Kingsport

301 Louis Street Ste #201

Kingsport, TN 37660

Uwaykpt.org

Westminster Presbyterian Church

1285 3rd Ave SE

Cedar Rapids, IA 52403