Posted by Douglas L. Epperson on December 8, 2011:

Bob Berry was a tremendously gifted and honorable person who fully dedicated himself to all that he did. He left an indelible imprint on Washington State University, where he received a degree in political science in 1950. He is one of the WSU College of Liberal Arts most distinguished graduates, which was reflected in his selection as the college's first distinguished alumnus award, which is the college's highest award for alumni. Bob was a member of a family of Cougars (the school's mascot), and he described his mother, in particular, as being intensely proud of WSU. In turn, Bob was intensely proud of his mother and two sisters. I was fortunate to have had a number of conversations with Bob over the last three years, and I was very impressed by his many skills, but, more importantly, his fidelity to core values. Bob clearly was a consummate teacher and mentor who was dedicated to helping his students realize their full potential. He deeply cared about the many cadets that he taught at West Point, and he was intensely proud of their achievements. He also never forgot and consistently honored those who helped him be successful. From his first grade teacher in Kelso to his WSU professors, like Claudius O. Johnson and President Compton, Bob could detail the lessons that he learned from them. A characteristic shared by all his mentors and evident in all that Bob did was caring. He often told me that "kids understand who is concerned" and that "the most beloved teachers were after us to learn because of the nature of the course and where it fit into our lives." Bob Berry was truly a caring teacher, mentor, and leader who will dearly be missed. But he leaves a legacy through all of the lives he touched and the lives they will touch. May we all be so fortunate to be able to say the same. Thank you, Bob. Doug Epperson, Dean WSU College of Liberal Arts

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