26
The geology community lost an excited
future oil-finder when Robert "Bob" Wasson
passed away on May 27, 2003, while attending
the Wichita State University field camp in
Buelah, Colorado.
Bob was born in El Paso, Texas on De-
cember 14, 1959 to Don and Lillian Wasson.
He and his family, which also included two
brothers, Andrew and Gregg, and a sister, Vee,
eventually settled in Wichita where Bob would
graduate from Southeast High School in 1977.
After graduating high school, he went to school
at the University of Kansas for his freshman
year, where he was a member of the Phi Gamma
Delta fraternity along with geologist Bill Stout.
Bob did not return to the University of Kansas.
Instead, he held a series of jobs and eventually
headed down to Texas in 1983.
In Texas, he met his wife and had two
children, Ashley and Matt. He eventually ended
up back in Wichita where, a few years later, he
would start school at Wichita State University
as a geology major.
Bob joined the geology department in
the fall of 2001, where he immediately became
active in all aspects of a geologist's life. He
was so excited about being in geology that he
would talk about rocks for so long his dinner
would grow cold before he even attempted to
eat it. He immediately joined AAPG, geology
club, and the Kansas Geological Society where
he helped out tremendously when it came to
fund raising, field trips, and volunteering.
Bob joined Sal and Chellie Mazzullo in
volunteering on Thursday nights at the KGS
Library. He would not let anything stop him
from coming in those nights, not even a big
chemistry test he was so worried about the next
morning. He loved being active in the society,
attending the spring bash, banquet, and techni-
cal talks. This year he helped with the banquet
by sitting at the ticket table where he met so
many professionals, he couldn't control his e x-
citement.
Besides sharing his love for geology, he
also shared his love for music, especially his
guitar. He played guitar for years, sometimes
for the public. He was so passionate about
playing he was willing to teach others when-
ever he had the time. He also wanted to take
his guitar on field trips but given the limited
amount of space he was not able to. There-
fore many of the students never got to hear
how well he played.
During this past spring semester, Bob
began to plan his summer. He knew he was
going to field camp, but Dr. William Parcell
also hired him to help do work in Wyoming
MEMORIAL Bob Wasson
Submitted by Marjorie Crane
Bob helping at the KGS Banquet