Dr. Robert J. (Bob) Parker

Abstract

It is with sadness that we announce the passing of Dr. R. J. (Bob) Parker, Professor Emeritus, on October 30, 2010 at the Victoria Hospital, Winnipeg, surrounded by his wife Margaret and family. Dr. Parker first joined the Department of Animal Science in 1959 as a Research Officer shortly after receiving a B.Sc. Agriculture (1958) from the University of Glasgow, a Scottish Diploma in Dairy from the West of Scotland Agriculture College and a post Graduate Diploma in Agriculture from the University of Reading. In 1961 Dr. Parker enrolled in the M.S.A. (Animal Breeding) program at the University of Toronto (Guelph) receiving his M.S.A. in 1962 followed by a Ph.D. in Animal Genetics from Michigan State University (1967). In 1966 Dr. Parker was appointed as an Assistant Professor in the Department of Animal Science, University of Manitoba, and quickly moved through the ranks to Full Professor. As an Academic, Dr. Parker always maintained that the primary function at the University is teaching and that the focus should be on student education; facilitating their learning and developing their problem-solving skills. The quality of education offered to our students in the Faculty of Agricultural and Food Sciences was of utmost importance to Dr. Parker and, over an 18 month period (1992/1994), he chaired a curriculum Task Force that revised the curriculum for the Faculty. The new curriculum was applauded from within and outside the University as being forward-looking, offering progressive programs that eliminated Departmental boundaries and focused on desired learning outcomes for the students that would meet both student and employee needs. Dr. Parker maintained a strong research program for most of his academic career, securing funding from NRC/NSERC, Agriculture Canada and other sources, graduating 10 M.Sc. and 7 Ph.D. students and publishing 78 peer-reviewed articles of which many were invited papers. His involvement in training and mentoring graduate students was very much on a one-on-one basis, fostering students’ critical thinking, always pushing the boundary. Dr. Parker was a very active participant in University and community life. During his tenure he served on some 60 University, Faculty, and Departmental committees. As a member of CSAS he served as Western Director and Chair of theMembershipCommittee (1972 1974), Executive Committee for the Canadian Animal Genetics Workshop (1974 1976), Secretary/Treasurer, Western Branch (1983 1987) and two terms asDirector,Western Branch (1987 1992). Concurrently, Bob served on many external research and industry committees. He was always willing to serve, and often accepted a leadership role. From 1986 to his retirement Dr. Parker was active as an administrator: Associate Head of Animal Science (4 years), Acting Head and Head of Animal Science (6 years), AssociateDeanResearch (4 years) and at the same time Director of the Glenlea Research Station (10 years). Dr. Parker’s activities anddecisions as administratorwere based on a set of guiding principles that included openness, integrity, fairness, equity, discretion, and compassion. In times of fiscal constraints, when tough decisions had to bemade, he carefully considered all implications to programs and people and chose the least damaging. He was well respected by his peers and subordinates and received the Administrator of the Year Award in 1995. Although Dr. Parker won numerous recognitions and awards throughout his career, two need special mention. Upon his retirement in 1997 Dr. Parker received the title Professor Emeritus and his colleagues and friends established the Robert J. Parker Graduate Fellowship in Animal Science. Dr. Parker passed away on Saturday October 30, 2010. He will be sadly missed, but dearly remembered by family, friends and colleagues for his sound advice, sense of humor, his warm laughter and his passion for life.