Robert McQueen

1925 - 2012

Dr. Robert McQueen

July 5, 1925

Dec. 23, 2012

Dr. Robert McQueen was born on July 5th, 1925, in Baltimore, Maryland to Beatrice Stockbridge and Robert G. McQueen. He was the fourth of five children: George, Dick, Jane, and Mary Guest. Robert and his family moved to Denver, Colorado in 1929. After completing the 11th grade at Denver's South High School, Robert moved to Portland, Oregon where, in 1943, he graduated from Lincoln High School.

With World War II then in full swing, Robert was inducted into the U.S. Army in November of 1943. Trained as an infantryman, he saw nearly two years of combat duty throughout the South West Pacific theatre, mainly in New Guinea and the Netherlands East Indies. He was discharged in April of 1946 with the rank of Sergeant.

In the summer of 1946, Robert enrolled at the University of Denver where he earned a BA in Psychology in 1949, and a Masters Degree in Psychology in 1950. While an undergraduate at Denver University, he married his South High School classmate, Shirley L. Pfeiffer.

Upon completing his Master's Degree, Robert served one year as an Instructor of Psychology at Idaho State College in 1950 and, the following year, as an Instructor of Psychology at Colorado State University. In 1952, he enrolled in the graduate school of the University of Texas, at Austin, to begin doctoral studies in Psychology. He received his Ph.D. degree in Psychology in 1955.

In the fall of 1955, Robert was appointed Assistant Professor of Psychology at the University of Nevada, Reno. He taught there until his retirement in 1990. During his 35 years at UNR he served in many capacities including Chairman of the Department of Psychology and Associate Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences. However, he viewed as his most significant assignment that of Chairman of the Scholarships and Prizes Board, which he headed for some 30 years; and during which time he was instrumental in establishing many scholarships and endowments which continue to this day. In the years 1960 through 1970, Robert divided his time between teaching at UNR and the Nevada State Hospital, where he served as Chief Clinical Psychologist.

Robert's work in the Reno/Sparks community included service on the boards of the Boy Scouts of America, the Campfire Girls, the Sparks Recreation Commission, and the Salvation Army. Additionally, he helped found the Sparks Junior Baseball League and, for several years, he was coach of the 8 to 9 year old Papooses. Professionally, Robert helped with the legislation that established the Nevada Board of Psychological Examiners and, subsequently, served as its President for more than 20 years. He took special pride in holding Nevada Psychology License # 1 - a number, he liked to say, that "was easy to remember."

First appointed to the Washoe County Board of School Trustees in 1970, Robert was subsequently elected and re-elected to that Board for four additional terms. In 1980, Robert McQueen High School was named in his honor.

Robert and Shirley have three children: Daniel Carl, Katherine Gail, and Thomas Patrick. Shirley preceded Robert in death in November of 2012. Robert passed away on December 23, 2012. They are both greatly missed by their children.

A memorial service will be held for Robert on January 5, 2013 at 1:30 p.m. at the Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Sparks, Nevada - 2900 N. McCarran Blvd.