It was a tough week

I lost two of my role models in one week. The first was my childhood hero, Al Kaline. The second was my friend and mentor, Bob Case. They had a lot in common. Al Kaline was a special talent. He never played a day in the minors. He is still the youngest player ever to win the batting title at age 20. He was a perennial All Star star, a World Series champion and first ballot Hall of Famer. Bob Case was a special leader. He was in the first graduating class of FTU, a star at Sears during its heyday and a member of the UCF College of Business Hall of Fame. He was the first recipient of our lifetime achievement award.

But what separates them from others is their lifetime commitment to the women and institutions they loved. Al Kaline was a part of the Tigers for 67 years and husband to Madge for more than 50. He loved the Tigers and the city of Detroit. He is known as Mr. Tiger. He was humble, approachable and always believed in doing the right thing. The city of Detroit and Tiger fans everywhere loved him back.

Bob gave this same devotion to UCF and his wife, Jan, of more than 50 years. He loved the college and the university. He sponsored the case competition, ran the Executive Development Center for a while, served as a judge at many college competitions, mentored several of us, helped create the Integrated Business program and beamed as a sponsor of every Hall of Fame induction ceremony since I’ve been dean. If the college had a name, it would be Bob. He was the epitome of a UCF grad: humble, grateful, always willing to lend a hand.

It is unfortunate that the pandemic prevents both of these extraordinary men from having the celebration of their lives that they deserve. Mr. Illitch, the owner of the Tigers has promised a memorial befitting of Mr. Tiger when conditions permit. We plan to do the same for Bob. We miss him and are eternally grateful that he chose to spend so much of his extraordinary life with us. The college won’t be the same without him. But we will remember the lessons he taught us and take good care of his alma mater in the way he would want. Charge On, Bob.