Robert L. “Bob” Robertson passed away on June 27, 2017 in Bozeman, MT. He was 89 years old.
Bob was born on November 11, 1927 in Kansas City, MO to Robert and Bessie Robertson. As a young boy, the family moved to Casper, WY where he attended McKinley Grade School. The family moved to Wichita, KS and Bob graduated in 1945 from Wichita East High School.
Bob enlisted in the Navy and served 14 months. Upon his discharge, he enrolled in Colorado College and received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Business Administration and Banking in 1950. In 1962, he received a Master of Education degree in Educational Administration from the University of Wyoming.
Bob’s teaching and coaching career began in Lander, WY in 1950 where he taught math and was an assistant football and basketball coach. He also taught and coached at Encampment, Lingle, and Riverton before moving to Laramie where he taught math and coached basketball and football at Laramie High School (LHS) from 1960-1977.
At LHS, Bob was an assistant basketball coach under Bob Cook when the basketball team won back-to-back State AA championships in 1964 and 1965. In 1969, as head LHS basketball coach, Bob’s team won the regional and state AA championships.
As an assistant football coach under John Deti, Sr., LHS won AA state football championships in 1962, 1964, 1969, and 1973. In 1968, Bob became interim head LHS football coach due to John Deti, Sr.’s illness. Under Bob, LHS won the 1968 AA state football championship and he was awarded the 1968 Wyoming Coaches Association Football Coach of the Year.
When Bob retired from teaching in 1977, he continued to assist in coaching LHS football under John Deti, Jr. until 1987. As an assistant under John Deti, Jr., the LHS football team won the 4A state championship in 1984.
Bob enjoyed an active membership in the Wyoming Coaches Association and served as president from 1970-1971. He was inducted in the Wyoming Coaches Association Hall of Fame in 1984.
Bob was inducted into the U.W. Athletic Hall of Fame in 2008 as an assistant coach for the 1978-79 University of Wyoming Cowgirl basketball team under Margie McDonald.
Bob was preceded in death by Vonda, his wife of 60 years. He is survived by his two daughters, Janis Oja and Gail Brannan and 4 grandsons.
Graveside services will be held in Laramie at Greenhill Cemetery at 10:00 a.m. on July 21, 2017. Memorial donations may be made to the charity of your choice.
My thoughts and prayers go out to Mr Robertson's family. I was truly saddened by this news. Mrs Black and Mr Robertson were my two favorite teachers during my secondary education. They were my two inspirations in my desire to be a math teacher. Both had similar techniques; strict disciplinarians, required time and effort to succeed in class, very demanding of time spent wisely in class. And both still had a very unique sense of humor that came out at appropriate times. His Trig/ Math Anal and Calculus classes were my two favorite in all of H.S. Fun, amazing assortment of classmates. I remember trying to be as early as possible to class ( you did not want to walk in late - Mr R would definitely have some quip for that person which the rest of the class would enjoy) to have fun with everyone, maybe ask others about certain homework problems. And, when Mr R walked in, we were immediately in our seats, quite and ready to work/ learn. I loved his class procedures, his working through proofs on the board, and he would often turn around with piece of chalk inhand, hand at his lips and ask someone specifically," so, how does that look, Syd?" He was my math hero. I went on to college. Received a B.S. in Mathematics, a minor in Education and taught H.S. math at Westminster High in Colorado for 30+ years. Mr. Robertson was why I wanted to teach the most disliked subject in school- sad but true. What a great man! My sincere condolences to his family. Sydney Rees-Rice 1969
Thank you, Sydney. This brought back memories from when I took Algebra II from my dad. Math was never easy for me except for the year I took Algebra II taught by my father. Gail
I am truly saddened to learn of the loss of this great man. Even though I wasn’t smart enough to take any of his mathematic classes, he was one of my football coaches and mentors. Many of the memories I have of those days revolve around his coaching when he incorporated mathematical nomenclature into football fundamentals he was teaching. He will be missed. My heart goes out to his family.
Thank you, Casey.
I will never forget the year Bob took over J Deti football.......and completely radicalized that T-formation with creative options that enabled the state championship. Additionally, he and Bill Bernatow were the only coaches that saw i had some talent and always put me in whenever they could (behind J. detis back....i might add...) so i could play. Thus, I had 11 touchdown receptions ( with Bob Eberhart and Tom Daniel q-backs...) in various JV games. He always visited years later-always called me "bear" (from football camp days...) and we talked of the current education crisis as well as national political and economic ideology. What a mind! and i had no idea he had such a long education and coaching legacy before or after Laramie high. What a privilege to share for so many years....my family is so fond of him, always.
Thank you, Ralph. We have enjoyed hearing the personal stories of those with whom our Dad taught or coached.
I was privileged to take a mathematics course from Mr. Robertson 1976-77. He was a great teacher, and I always enjoyed his wry sense of humor. He was one of a kind, and I'm glad I knew him.
Thank you, Kevin.
Our prayers are with Bob Robertson's family.He was a great mentor to me as a coach at Laramie High School.His favorite drill in football "peelbacks" will live on.Rest in Peace.Gil and Jan Bradfield.
Thank you, Gil and Jan.
Bob Robertson made a huge impact on the University of Wyoming Women's Basketball teams during his time as our assistant coach. He was a great teacher and coach, not only to the athletes but to the head coach! That's me, Margie McDonald! My prayers and sympathy go out to his family.
Thank you, Margie.
You were a great coach
Thank you, OLeary, Gary, and Sharon.
I was a student in Mr. Robertson's math classes from 1975-77. He was one of the most influential teachers I had at LHS. He taught and expected disciplined thinking and I will never forget his mathematical proofs, the most rigorous I came across in all the subsequent math coures I took. I learned much from Mr. Robertson, and what I took from his classes has aided me greatly in later endevors. RIP, Mr. Robertson.
Thank you, Joe.
My sincere condolences to the Family! Coach was a true mentor and great coach! The older I became the more appreciated him as a player and a Coach. God bless you all!
Thank you.
Our hearts go out to the family of Mr Robertson as we called him at Lingle High School 63 years ago when he became our teacher, basketball, and football coach. About 4 years ago as guests of Jerry Hill (who Bob coached in high school) we attended U.W.Athletic Hall of Fame where we were privileged to be guests at the same table as Mr. Robertson and Vonda and we enjoyed the evening with them. Wonderful memories of his coaching abilities at Lingle High School. Barry and Shirley (Hill) Flock
Thank you, Barry and Shirley.
My sincere condolences to you and the family Coach Robertson was a mentor and a great coach that I appreciated even more the older I become. He touched a lot of student-athletes lives I know he'll never be forgotten. God bless you all!
I am honored and blessed to have known and worked with Bob in the Math Dept. of LHS. He was a good friend and a special person. My condolences to the family. Don Shoefelt
Thank you, Mr. Shoefelt.
He was a great man. So very sorry for your loss. Thank you for sharing him with so many of us over the years.
Thank you, Ann.
Great man
Thank you, Rich.
My sincere sympathy to your family on the loss of your father. We were neighbors to them 13 years in laramie on Curtis street and so enjoyed their friendship.
Thank you, Julie.
My condolences too. Mr. Robertson was a wonderful math teacher. I went on to get a math degree and I can say the senior math class he taught prepared me well for freshman and sophomore level college math and beyond. "You give me an epsilon and I'll give you a delta".
Thank you, Betsy.
Deepest condolences. Not only a great coach, but a great Math teacher and mentor. One of the good guys in Esucation; he told it like it was. May his memory be eternal. Hugh Smith and Family-Bakersfield, CA
Thank you, Hugh