Portait of Dr. Allen Ecker

Credit: Ecker Family

This week marks the passing of one of the most consequential lives ever in our state - a television pioneer who changed all - and one of Bobby Dodd’s boys at Georgia Tech (1955-1957).

Dr. Allen Ecker (1935-2026) was selected as All-America, Academic All-America, and All-SEC. A nimble lineman who played both sides of the ball, helping lead the Yellow Jackets to the Sugar and Gator Bowls. Dr. Ecker is in the GT Sports Hall Of Fame.

Coach Bobby Dodd Praises Ecker during his playing days for the Yellow Jackets

Credit: Georgia Tech

This legendary Yellow Jacket football player and student was born inside Athens General under the medical direction of his grandfather - the founder of the hospital. At 15, he moved to Atlanta where he attended and graduated from Grady (Midtown) High School.

Dr. Ecker received a PHD in Electrical Engineering from Ohio State and served as a Captain in U.S. Air Force. He began by working in various positions for Georgia Tech’s Research Institute (GTRI), culminating as Director of Applied Engineering.

In 1976, Dr. Ecker was recruited to work for Scientific Atlanta (antenna & cable television technology) as Vice President of R&D and stayed for more than three decades. He believed the internet could deliver television. Scientific Atlanta was purchased by Cisco in 2008 for $6 billion.

Dr. Ecker was inducted into every technology hall of fame imaginable. In 2014, the Georgia Legislature honored him for his contributions in technology and economic development in the state. 

Dr. Allen Ecker honored by the Georgia Legislature

He and his wife Sandra provided Georgia Tech scholarships for students majoring in Biomedical Engineering and was an early supporter of Georgia Tech’s EXCEL program.

After his retirement, Dr. Ecker served on the Board of Trustees for the Marcus Autism Center.

He was master sandcastle builder, a body surfer, a great tennis player (provided tennis scholarships at GT), and a world traveler who made his community better and stronger.

His grandchildren will remember his cheese toast.

Memorials may be given to Haygood Memorial United Methodist Church to support their outreach programs or support Jamaican Relief. (https://supportjamaica.gov.jm/.)