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Robert James Minnix
1950 - 2017
Robert James Minnix
1950 - 2017
Obituary
Guest Book
BORN
1950
DIED
2017
Robert Minnix Obituary
Bob attended Lewis and Clark High School in Spokane starred in football, earning First Team All-City and Associated Press First Team All-State honors in both his junior and senior years. An outstanding student Bob earned a scholarship to attend the University of Notre Dame where he lettered three years in football, and led the Fighting Irish in rushing his senior season. After graduation, he declined professional opportunities with the NFL and the CFL to enroll in the University of Washington law school where he earned his juris doctorate degree.
Bob pursued his passion in athletics and law through 20 years of employment with the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA), serving the last seven years as Director of Enforcement, where he was known as a pioneer of compliance and a champion for the fair treatment of the student athlete. In 1995 he left the NCAA to become an Associate Athletics Director at Florida State University (FSU) in Tallahassee, where he developed mentoring programs for college athletes and taught in both the undergraduate and law schools. Following his tenure at FSU, he accepted a position at Washington State University to become Senior Associate Athletics Director, a job from which he recently retired. He was a nationally recognized authority on regulatory and enforcement issues in college athletics and was a distinguished lecturer nationally for many years at numerous conferences and seminars. Bob was past president of the National Black Coaches Association and received the Frank Kara National Leadership Award from the National Association for Athletics.
Bob had a passion for golf and fishing and he was an avid collector of wine, considering himself to be an amateur sommelier. He loved his family, his friends and a spirited debate. His remarkable ability to make everyone feel addressed, to feel special, will be forever missed by those who had the great fortune to know him and to love him. Memorial donations may be made to the Robert J. Minnix Endowed Scholarship, University of Notre Dame, ? Donor Services, 1100 Grace Hall, Notre Dame, IN 46556.
A public celebration service will be conducted for Bob on February 17, 2018 at 1:00pm at Lewis & Clark High School Auditorium in Spokane, Washington. To extend condolences and to share memories of Bob please visit www.ballanddodd.com
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
Tina Teigen
February 25, 2018
I am truly devastated by Bob Minnix' passing. He was not only my boss, he was my friend. I felt honored to work closely by his side as his assistant at WSU for 8 years. His words and his teachings will always remain close to me in my heart and mind. He was my mentor and one of my best friends. I will miss his empathy, his kind words, and how his observance of others and their words and actions always dug deeper into their soul. I will NEVER forget him and how much he cared about others. He always looked past the appearances and first impressions of others to find the person's true feelings within. He was always so eager to speak with others and never felt that he was more important than them. We would speak about music, movies and books that we both loved for hours! He taught me so much in the short time that he was in my life. I can still hear his laughter in my mind...He wanted to know the what, when and why of everything. He prided himself on this never ending curiosity. His never ending encouragement that I can do whatever I set my mind to do! He genuinely cared about what happened in the lives of othersWhen he would ask someone how they were doing, he wouldn't settle for a flippant ok-he took the time to dig deeper, based on the tone of their voice or their facial expression. Whenever I was sad about the injustices and racism that is in the world today, I would go to him crying and asking him how I can change these things in the world around me, he would look at me and tell me that I am already doing all that I can-just by being myself. He saw how much it hurt me and he said that I was making a difference just by not being like all of the others in the world whom had hateful hearts and minds. He would always build up my confidence in myself, just as he did all the student-athletes and coworkers that would come to see him in his office or speak to him in his LifeSkills classes. He cared so much about the student-athletes! He would kindly refer to him as knuckleheads while shaking his head and smiling at something silly that they did or said. The students could feel how much he cared about them all. I have never once met a student in his class who didn't respect him (even after he told them to put away their cellphones or take off their hats numerous times during his classes). If Bob knew a person, he CARED about that person. Even after a student-athlete graduated from college, they knew that they could always look to Bob Minnix for his concern and his advice. I felt so privileged that his cursive handwriting was exactly like my grandmother's, so that I had no problem typing his letters and documents for him He had always told me that when he finally retired, he would end up relaxing in the warmth of a Florida Beachso I choose to believe that he is finally able to find some relaxation in a Beach up there in Heaven. I love and miss you Bob Minnix.
Patrick Saad
February 21, 2018
I am truly sorry I wasn't able to attend Bob's memorial or to have a chance to see him again at the upcoming class reunion.He was a very special person-- loved and respected by all who knew him. He will be missed and long remembered. My heart felt condolences to the family.
Bob Minnix 1968
Bob Minnix
February 17, 2018
LC football
Bob Minnix
February 17, 2018
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Jacquie (Herron) Kilgren
February 16, 2018
What good memories we had on the football field, basketball court and baseball field ~~ well, Bobby and the guys were playing, we were cheering! :). In the halls of LC, classrooms, school events, and even selling yearbooks (Bob was a competitor even at this!) who could not notice and be welcomed by that wonderful Bob Minnix smile?! In the Herron family Bob, and the Minnix family, garnered our respects in those years at LC. As a sports broadcaster and lover of LC sports, my dad had a high regard for Bob, and dad was so glad Bob and Bill (Etter) were able to go on to Notre Dame. He would have said the fact Bob ended up as a WSU Cougar was simply icing on the cake :).
It is wonderful to read of Bob's history, his dear family, the career path he took, and the many people he touched.
To Genny, Brennan, Blair and special granddaughter Brooklynn, and the whole Minnix family, it is with sympathy and respect we honor Bob with you at this time.
Sincerely, Jacquie (Herron) Kilgren, LC class of '68
Victor Ogohara
February 10, 2018
I am deeply saddened to learn of Bob's passing and extend my condolences to his family. I grew up with Bob from Lincoln elementary school through Lewis and Clark High School and will cherish the memories we shared together playing in the yard after school or just hanging out with you. I always looked up to you and I was proud to say I was your friend. Your friendship, great smile and life accomplishments have influenced many and your legacy is one that will be remembered and inspire those forever. I will miss you and always be your friend.
Gary (Mike) Boothe
January 20, 2018
My sympathies go out to the Minnix family. I went to school at LCHS back in the 1960's with Bob.
Charlee Linton
January 16, 2018
I had the pleasure of being one of many student-athletes at Washington State University that looked to Bob for guidance, advice, or a good laugh. During my time at WSU Bob encouraged me to branch out and meet athletes from other sports as well as getting involved with events around campus. Bob emphasized the "complete Cougar experience," which will stick with me forever. I'm thankful for his presence in my collegiate experience and the message he sent to all student-athletes.
-Charlee Linton '16
WSU Track & Field
victoria Harkey
January 15, 2018
I've been a family friend for over 50 years our Mothers were like sisters as well as the family being a part of my own. He will be missed...., his outstanding accomplishments as a athlete, and exceptional personality will always be remembered.
The Harkey Family
Dan Close
January 14, 2018
I was saddened to hear about Bob's passing. He was a great person, athlete and role model. I knew Bob at LC and had the chance to reconnect with him years later when I was the AD there and he was at FSU. His contract at FSU stated that he be allowed to attend the Washington State AD conference each year in Spokane. He used the opportunity to visit family, golf with friends and catch up on things. We would meet at the conference and plan on him coming to school to meet with students. He would meet with students and share his experiences, ask about theirs and encourage them to do their best and follow their dreams. That dialogue, coming from an LC icon, positively benefitted many students. His unselfish giving of time was typical Bob. He remembered where he was from and wanted to give back.
My thoughts and prayers go out to his family. He will be missed.
Dan Close
January 14, 2018
I was sad to learn of Bob's passing. He was a great person, athlete, and role model. I knew Bob at LC and had a chance to reconnect with him when I was the AD there and he was at FSU. He had in his contract at FSU that they would allow him to attend the Washington AD conference each year held in spokane. This allowed him to visit family, golf with friends and catch up on things. He always made a point to come meet with students when in town. He would talk about his experiences, ask about theirs and encourage them to do their best. That kind of dialogue, with a true LC icon, was something many students positively benefitted from. It was also vintage Bob, remembering where he came from and wanting to give back.
My thoughts and prayers go out to his family. He was great man who will be missed.
Jim Mackey
December 9, 2017
Please accept my condolences. I had the privilege of knowing Bob in high school.
Patricia Krohn-pope
December 8, 2017
We the Pope family of teammate AlPope understand your loss. Enjoyed meeting Bob in Tallahassee when visiting family just before your move back to Washington. Thoughts are with you and the offer of assurance that although you will not stop missing times with him you can cherish your memories of times that warm your heart. We still talk of Al and all his teammates at ND as you will of Bob
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