Bob Ross is still going strong, even after teaching 50 years at Linn-Benton Community College.
"It doesn't feel like 50 years of teaching. It sneaks up on you because you're having a great time," said Ross.
Ross looked right at home sitting comfortably at a table in the sunny hallway in the White Oak Hall science building, the brand new "BIOLOGY" mosaic behind him. His voice is bright as he speaks, taking thoughtful pauses meant for a listener to write or think.
"I can't imagine a better life," said Ross.
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| Bob Ross shows "adaptation," using iPhone. Photo by Becky Howell |
Ross remembers the earliest days and compares them to being a pioneer arriving at a new, uncultivated land.
"There was so much excitement and creativity at that time. We were asking, ‘What are the students asking for? What do they need?’ We were listening. It was fun to hear the feedback," said Ross.
What students asked for, Ross taught. Over the next five decades Ross taught at one time or another courses in biology, botany, natural history, foods and nutrition, zoology, vegetable garden ecology, reproductive strategies, Oregon ecology, wedding photography and nature photography.
Ross’s philosophy was all about teaching students how to be curious, to observe, to make connections in their learning.
“Bob Ross is a true scientist and educator” said colleague Greg Mulder, LBCC physical science instructor. “As a scientist he is always making observations of the universe around him and learns from what he sees. As an educator, Bob teaches not only what he knows, but also teaches how to go about observing for yourself.”
Most days, observations were made in a classroom lab with four walls and tables and microscopes. Other times, the lab was outdoors where Ross and other instructors brought students to explore and study plants and animals in Oregon wetlands, coasts, forests, streams, mountains and fields. One class watched elk swimming in the ocean. Another fortunate group of students were among the few allowed to hike into the crater of Mt. St. Helens.
Meanwhile, years of observations and experiences made by students and Ross were caught on film by Ross, an avid photographer. In fact, nature photography became one of Ross’ most popular classes.
Many of the photographs in Ross’ enormous collection were used as teaching materials and in self-published student manuals for his classes. They also provided selections for a book he co-authored in 1988 with Henrietta Chambers, “Wildflowers of the Western Cascades.” At one time Ross had 40,000 nature slides, which he pared down to 2,000 when he digitized his images.
Ross officially retired in 1998, but continued to work full-time, and donated his salary to the Peace and Justice Institute. A few years later, Ross began to work part-time. Ross said he is frequently honored to give slide shows and programs throughout Oregon to all kinds of organizations on topics related to nature, science, religion and our future. Yet, he still believes his best work is helping students grow right here.
Ross officially retired in 1998, but continued to work full-time, and donated his salary to the Peace and Justice Institute. A few years later, Ross began to work part-time. Ross said he is frequently honored to give slide shows and programs throughout Oregon to all kinds of organizations on topics related to nature, science, religion and our future. Yet, he still believes his best work is helping students grow right here.
“College is about folks who blossom into the futures they envision for themselves. My greatest honor comes from LBCC that allows me to continue to share the wonders of life with students so that they can be more successful people,” said Ross.
And, even after all this time, that original pioneer spirit promoting the LB ideal still rings clear.
“Our goal here at LBCC is to foster a civil community that is our sanctuary, our home; our environment that nurtures us, and we it,” said Ross.
These days, Ross enjoys time with his wife of 54 years, Judy Ross, and their three children and three grandchildren. He also works out at the YMCA, and makes regular checks on his 30 research sites from the Three Sisters to Mt. Jefferson. He continues to stay current in his field, especially as he teaches Oregon Ecology, scheduled for spring term.
One thing Ross doesn’t do is slow down.
“I’m 75 now. At 70 and 71 it took three tries to hike up to 3,000 feet in one day and back home for supper. At 74, I did it on my first try.”
“By the way, that was on snow shoes.”
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| Photo courtesy of LBCC |
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| Photo courtesy of LBCC |
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| Photo courtesy of LBCC |
At a Glance
Who: Bob Ross
What: 50-year employment anniversary
Where: Linn-Benton Community College
When: June 1968 - present
Contact: Bob Ross at rossb@linnbenton.edu
What: 50-year employment anniversary
Where: Linn-Benton Community College
When: June 1968 - present
Contact: Bob Ross at rossb@linnbenton.edu
Greg Mulder remembers
“Bob and I had the opportunity to hike together into the caldera of Mt. St. Helens. During this amazing adventure we came across hot water waterfalls, house-sized boulders shattered by the eruption but still standing in place, and biology struggling to reclaim ecosystem. After a great lunch on the lava dome we got chased out of the caldera by a rain storm that lasted for 3 days and that then melted the glacier causing a volcanic eruption a few weeks later.”
Stephen Lebsack remembers
“For my first 5 years at LB I was the lab prep person. Bob had a lab on respiration which is the consumption of oxygen. I would make 6 big bowls of dough and students rolled it into small loaves and I would pick them up and bake them, and by the end of the two-hour class students ate it. There was yeast in the bread and that was the connector....yeast are using sugar that's making carbon dioxide which is making the bread rise. It was a real application of what was going on. Students would bring jam and butter and honey.”
“One of the things Bob got me started on was how to graft apples. At one time I had so many grafts on my tree I didn't know what they were anymore. Each tree had 10 - 12 grafts on it.”
“One of the funnest things we ever did was we used to have apple shows. We would get 30-40 varieties of apples, all cut up in our lab room. We would use all the counters to have all the apples out. People could bring apples in because there was a guy from OSU who could identify what kind of apple tree they had. We called it the Biology Dept Apple Show. It became really popular…. people would stop by on like a Friday afternoon at 3:00.”
Ross has had a photography business for many years, taking photos for Oregon businesses, farms, and weddings. He even shot the wedding photos of long-time LBCC colleagues Carolyn and Stephen Lebsack.
