Dr. Robert Wixom, professor emeritus of biochemistry, passed away at the age of 85.
July 15, 2009
Dr. Robert L. Wixom passed away on Wednesday, July 8th, 2009. The family will be planning a memorial service for him in early August, in which we will have the opportunity to remember Bob with his family. We searched for other words to convey the professional/academic side of our friend and peer. In doing so, Dr. Tom Mawhinney came across the following paragraphs that spoke of Bob's accomplishments for which he was given an Outstanding Alumni Award in 2003 from his alma mater, Earlham College of Richmond, Indiana.
"Robert L. Wixom '47: Robert L. Wixom's life shows his Quaker heritage and his liberal arts program approach developed at Earlham College. This is reflected in his later choices of profession (teaching and research in biochemistry at the School of Medicine at both University of Arkansas and University of Missouri), his frequent contact/interaction with many medical, biochemical and other health-related students, his search for scientific approach to truth with graduate and medical students and his open-minded inquiry-based approach to science, religion and the world community.
He has received three teaching awards, one of which was a nomination by MU students for the Conservation Educator of the Year (1996) for the State of Missouri. He served as a Departmental Representative to the Graduate Faculty Senate (1970 to 1993) and the Chair of the Biological Sciences Sector 1989 to 1992; this included a key role in three new major university programs. He was the co-initiator of the UMC Environmental Affairs Council, served as their first Chair for three years (1990 to 1994). He initiated and served as Senior Editor of the 1997 book, "Environmental Challenges for Higher Education: Integration of Sustainability into Academic Programs". Most recently he was Co-Editor of the book "Chromatography - A Century of Discovery 1900-2000, The Bridges to the Sciences and Technology". He officially retired in 1992 as Professor Emeritus of Biochemistry, but continues many similar activities."