Charles Megibben, longtime Vanderbilt mathematics professor and a major developer of the mathematics department, died Tuesday, March 2, during heart surgery. He was 73 years old.

According to the university, Megibben, who became a professor of mathematics, emeritus, in 2005, started teaching at Vanderbilt in 1967 after earning his Ph.D in math from Auburn University. He also taught at Texas Tech College and the University of Washington before coming to Vanderbilt

Internationally, Megibben is known was known as a leader in the theory of abelian groups, a field of algebra.

According to the university, Matthew Gould, professor of mathematics, emeritus, said Megibben was a popular professor among students, known for writing and distributing lecture notes to his classes instead of using published textbooks and spending time with students in his office answering math questions.