Ralph Behnke, professor emeritus in the College of Communication, passed away in his sleep Saturday, May 7.

Behnke, 79, was a recipient of the Chancellor’s Award for Distinguished Research and has taught at TCU since 1974. He is ranked nationally in research productivity for publications in the Communication Studies field and was a specialist in the psychophysiology of communication, communication anxiety, and communication education.

A memorial will be held at the University’s Robert Carr Chapel at 11 a.m. Thursday. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Ralph Behnke Student Scholarship Fund.