Robert E. Akins, 58; Professor Was Expert on Wind Power

Robert E. Akins, 58, a professor of physics at Washington and Lee University and an expert on wind power, has died.

Akins died Nov. 3 of cancer, the university said Monday.

Akins, a former member of the Virginia Tech faculty, was widely published on wind power and wind-related design and construction. He served on an Energy Department panel assessing a federal wind energy program.

He began his teaching career at Virginia Tech and joined the faculty at Washington and Lee in 1984.