Whipple, 51, who had been teaching in the Law School's trial techniques program for 16 years, died Thursday of a heart attack while teaching his class of third-year law students.

Third-year Law Student Shane Keith, who was giving a final presentation in class Thursday, said Whipple stood up and said he had to go to the restroom. "At first we thought he was joking," Keith said. "But once he came back and we saw the color of his face, we knew it was not a joke anymore."

Keith said Whipple was gasping for air and asked him to call an ambulance. "When I tried 911, the line was busy," he said. "But a desk worker called Emory Police. First Responders arrived about three minutes later."

DeKalb EMS, which took approximately 14 minutes to respond, transported Whipple to Emory Hospital where he was later pronounced dead.

A lead drama coach of the Kessler-Eidson Program for Trial Techniques, an award winning two-week program unique to Emory's law school, Whipple guided students toward their inner actor.

Third-year Law Student Greg Shenton, a Wheel staff writer, was standing outside his classroom when the incident occurred. He said the professor had a major impact in his life. "The things he taught us dealt with our own humanity," he said. "He taught us something that you just don't get in other law classes."

Shenton said Whipple taught his students how to effectively communicate inside and outside the classroom. "He didn't seem to only teach with an academic aim," he said. "He taught us how to convey respect, emotion and compassion and how to do it all with confidence."

Law School Administrative Professor Molly O'Brien said Whipple's class was consistently rated the favorite class in the Law School, which she attributed to his teaching style because he was able to connect with students and help them connect with themselves.

She said he taught students how to tell legal stories in a human way. "He was actor with presence," she said. "He understood that law is a human drama."

Corky Gallow, a media services technician at the Law School who worked with Whipple for 12 years, said he was very different as law professors go.

"He wasn't into the law but into acting," Gallow said. "He balanced out all the intellectual nature that law requires and got students comfortable in their body. It was a real interesting slant for students to learn from."

Shenton said the Student Bar Association is setting up a scholarship award as part of the third year law students' class gift in honor of Whipple. He said the annual scholarship would be granted to a Trial Techniques program participant who has shown great dramatic flair and excellence in communication presentation during the two-week program.

"This scholarship will go to the student who best embodied the dramatic principles that he taught at the Law School for 16 years," Shenton said. "We want something to remember Whipple by forever."

Approximately 60 people gathered at Cannon Chapel Sunday to honor Whipple's memoryand to share memories. His mother, Bonnie Whipple, accepted flowers from over 30 students at the service.