Tom Dyer built two successful careers at the University of Georgia.

As a member of UGA’s history department, he earned teaching awards and published important books, including a definitive 200-year history of the University of Georgia and the award-winning “Secret Yankees: the Union Circle in Confederate Atlanta” in 1999.

Before his death Monday at 70, he had also been working on a book about the family farm where he grew up with four brothers back in Saline County, Mo., now on the National Register of Historic Places, thanks largely to Dyer’s efforts.

And as vice president in both the service and instruction divisions, he helped transform UGA into the highly ranked university it is today, said former UGA President Charles Knapp....