Charles 'Bob' Robert McGimsey III's Obituary
Charles Robert (Bob) McGimsey III died January 20, 2015, in Fayetteville, Arkansas at the age of 89. He is survived by his wife, Mary E., three sons: Chip, Brian, and Mark; six grandchildren: Michael Robert and Maegan Elizabeth McGimsey, and Jack Alexander, Dennis Charles, Forrest Conner, and Neil Evan Wold-McGimsey; his sister, Ann Crone; his half-brother, Doug Bethurum; and his daughter-in-law, Joanne Grady. He was preceded in death by his grandson Patrick Thomas McGimsey.
Bob was born in Dallas, Texas, on June 18, 1925 and spent much of his younger years growing up in the New York area. He served in the Navy during World War II. After the war he obtained a doctorate in Anthropology from Harvard University and joined the University of Arkansas in 1957. He was a driving force behind the establishment of the Department of Anthropology at the University and served as a professor from 1958 to 1990. Bob also served as Department Chairman from 1969 to 1972. During this span, he also served as Director of the University Museum from 1960 to 1983. During the 1960s he worked with interested individuals from around the state to organize the Arkansas Archaeological Society and to develop a state-wide program in archaeology. In 1967, the State Legislature created the Arkansas Archaeological Survey; Bob was named as the first Director, a position he retained for 23 years. The Survey placed archaeologists at most of the universities across the state to teach classes in archaeology and anthropology and to conduct research into the prehistory and history of Arkansas. At the time of its conception, it was a unique program for any state in the US, and it remains one of the very few state-wide archaeology institutions today.
Bob was also instrumental at the federal level in developing legislation to support archaeology and historic preservation in advance of federally funded construction and development projects. This legislation was passed during the early 1970s. During this time, he also served a two-year term as president of the Society for American Archaeology, the national society of American archaeologists. Throughout his career, he wrote dozens of articles and one book concerning American archaeology, historic preservation and the role of the public in protecting and preserving our history.
Bob retired in 1990. He continued to write articles throughout his retirement, but he and his wife also traveled extensively around the world through the Elder Hostel program.
The family requests that, in lieu of flowers, donations be made to the Charles R. McGimsey III Endowment scholarship fund at the University of Arkansas to support graduate students in the field of cultural resource management. Checks should be made payable to The University of Arkansas Foundation Incorporated and mailed to the Fulbright College Development Office, 525 Old Main, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, AR 72701. The University of Arkansas Foundation, Inc. is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization and contributions are tax-deductible. The credit cards Visa, MasterCard, AmEx and Discover are accepted. To ensure that your contribution is processed as a secure transaction, please contact the Fulbright College Development Office (479.575.3712 or [email protected]). Questions can be addressed to the Fulbright College Development Office at (479)575-3712 or [email protected].
Memorial service will be held 2:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m., Friday, February 6, 2015 at Butterfield Trail Village Convocation Room in Fayetteville. Burial will be in Sleepy Hollow Cemetery in Tarrytown, New York. Local arrangements are under the direction of Moore’s Chapel.
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