Robert E. “Bob” Hair
Robert E. “Bob” Hair, an award-winning writer, editor and Sturgis historian, died at his home in Sturgis on Saturday, March 5. He was 94.
Robert Eugene Hair was born April 11, 1921, in Winamac, to Charles Franklin Hair and Lucy Agnes Zellers Hair.
He received most of his early schooling in the south suburbs of Chicago, graduating in 1938 from Thornton Township High School in Harvey, Illinois. He was a Rector Scholar at DePauw University in Greencastle, graduating with distinction in 1942 with a degree in English composition and journalism.
Hair worked briefly for United Press wire service in Indianapolis before joining the U.S. Army Signal Corps on Aug. 13, 1942, and was assigned to Camp Atterbury. He was next sent to the University of Michigan for specialized training in German language and European geography before heading to northern Europe with the 1263rd Engineer Combat Battalion as the battalion intelligence sergeant.
While attached to the British Second Army in northern Germany, Hair’s outfit met Russian ground forces east of the Elbe River in May 1945 as World War II in Europe ended. Hair was discharged in March 1946 as a master sergeant.
He joined the editorial staff of the Sturgis Daily Journal in October 1946, working initially as the telegraph news editor before being promoted to managing editor. He left in February 1952 to rejoin United Press, this time in its Chicago bureau. After two years, he returned to the University of Michigan to take biomedical courses.
He put that medical training to use throughout his career: as medical editor and writer with the Michigan Department of Health in Lansing; as a writer and editor at Encyclopedia Brittanica in Chicago; and as an editor at Battelle, a research institution in Columbus, Ohio. Later he was corporate editor at Cordis Corp. in Miami, Florida, a pioneer in coronary research.
Hair and his wife, Marian, returned to Sturgis in 1988 and Bob later began writing a popular local history column, “Looking Backward,” for the Sturgis Journal. He also launched a quest to uncover local history, scouring old newspapers and putting out a call for residents willing to share their recollections, vintage postcards and family photographs.
“I’ve been fascinated by the story of this city: how the place got started, what made it grow, who the first settlers were, how Sturgis learned to govern itself, all are part of the fascination,” Hair wrote in the mid-1990s. “To me, Sturgis is a prime example of the American success story and, to my way of thinking, that’s important.”
He subsequently produced four books: “Sturgis, Michigan: Its Story to 1930” (published in 1992); “Sturgis, Michigan: 1930 to 1945” (1996); “Sturgis and Its Industrial Growth” (1998) and “Klinger Lake … Its Origins and Growth” (2001).
The Historical Society of Michigan presented Hair with certificates of merit for the first two books.
An accomplished pianist and organist, Hair had many hobbies, included collecting and restoring antique furniture, collecting and playing old popular music, and preserving Sturgis and St. Joseph County history.
He was a member of Neuman-Wenzel American Legion Post 73, Capt. John J. Kelley Post 1355 of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, Masonic Meridian Sun-Eagle Lodge 49, Sturgis First Presbyterian Church, Lambda Chi Alpha social fraternity, American Medical Writers Association, Society of Professional Journalists, Sturgis Historical Society, St. Joseph County Historical Society and the German Philatelic Society. At various times, he was a member and president of the Sturgis Exchange Club and the City Auditorium Board.
Robert Hair is survived by Marian (Emerson), his wife of 65 years; his son Don [Jo]; his daughter Marty [Darrell Amlin]; and by four grandchildren; and eight great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his parents; and a sister, Mrs. Lois A. Cardwell of Louisville, Kentucky.
The family would like to express their deepest appreciation to Karen Fennell and her family for their love and care in recent years.
A memorial service will be at 11 a.m. Thursday at the First Presbyterian Church in Sturgis, with the Rev. Michael Wicks officiating.
The Hackman Chapel of Hackman Family Funeral Homes of Sturgis is entrusted with the arrangements.
Memorial contributions may be sent to the church: 1320 S. Lakeview, Sturgis 49091, or to the Sturgis Historical Society: P.O. Box 392, Sturgis 49091.
The obituary is also at www.hackmanfamilyfuneralhomes.com where personal messages of support may be left for the family.
(Pulaski County Journal — March 9, 2016)