Robert W. Wylie

Robert W. Wylie Robert W. Wylie born November 29, 1923 in Breckenridge, Texas died July 3, 2011 in Cedar Park, Texas. Robert is survived by his wife Sue of Cedar Park, Texas; a brother John Wylie and his wife Donna of Leander, Texas; sister- in-law Loretta Wylie of New Jersey; sister-in-law and brother- in-law JoAnn and Johnny Hubbeling of Ingram, Texas and brother- in-law and sister-in-law George and Joyce Humphrey of Abilene, Texas. He is also survived by his four children, Ann Wylie of Amarillo, Texas; Sara Naylor and husband Stan of Cedar Park, Texas; Mark Wylie and wife Kathleen of Austin, Texas; David Wylie of Amarillo, Texas. Also surviving him are grandchildren Elizabeth Jones and husband Keith and children Tristan and Keltan; Aaron Wylie and Jacob Wylie of Denver, Colorado; Matthew Naylor of Austin, Texas; David Wylie and wife Emily and daughter Maesyn of Manor, Texas; Annah McKaye of San Antonio, Texas; River Wylie of Lago Vista, Texas; Laura Wylie of Albuquerque, New Mexico; Katherine White and husband Chris and their son Ben of Beale Air Force Base, California; Sara Wylie and fiancé Jonathan Escoe of Canyon, Texas; and Nickolas Wylie who is stationed in Guam. He is also survived by numerous nieces and nephews. Robert was preceded in death by his parents Irene and Ray Wylie, by one brother Thomas Wylie, one sister Betty Withers and a great grandchild Justan Jones. Robert was raised in Albany, Texas. He graduated from Albany High School in 1941. For 70 years he and his classmates have reunited each year to celebrate their class. Following his high school graduation he attended Texas Tech University from 1941-42, his education was interrupted by his service in World War II. He was a member of the 104th Division, 414th Regiment in the Army and served in the European Theater and fought in the Battle of the Bulge. He returned to Texas Tech from 1946-49 receiving his Bachelor of Arts in Journalism and English. On November 22, 1951 he married Sue Humphrey of Stamford, Texas. He received his Master of Arts from the University of Texas at Austin in 1955. He began his teaching career at Irving High School teaching English and Journalism. He continued his career in Anahuac, Texas then moved to Amarillo, Texas where he taught first at Palo Duro High School from 1955 to 1963 then to Amarillo College where he taught until his retirement in 1992. He was chairman of the English Department at Amarillo College from 1984 until 1992. He continued his association with Amarillo College for many years after his retirement from teaching as a Writer-in-Residence and Professor Emeritus. Also following his retirement he enjoyed many years teaching a memoir writing class. Robert loved teaching and his career was marked by many achievements. He was Editor of the National Community College Journalism Association in the 1970's. He was President of the National Association of Community College Journalism Teachers also in the 1970's. He was named Adviser of the Year by the Texas Intercollegiate Press Association in 1975. He received a Wall Street Journal Fellowship to the University of Texas Journalism Seminar in 1968. In 1978 he received the Amarillo College President's Award. He served three terms as Chairman of the Executive Committee of the Southwest Regional Conference of English in the two year college. The SCRE Service award was named for him in 1992. He was a life member of the Conference of College Teachers of English. He twice received grants to attend seminars sponsored by the National Endowment for the Humanities. He was a Humanities Scholar of Texas Sesquicentennial Voices, 1986. He served as President of the Texas/Southwest Popular Culture Association in 1987 and he was a member of the Editorial Advisory Board for teaching English in the Two-Year College in the 1980's. In 1984 he received the prestigious Minnie Stevens Piper Professor Award, an award given annually to a few professors statewide who exemplify superior teaching at the college level. He loved words, reading them, writing them and educating others about them. He was the author of various scholarly and general interest articles and author of a book of poetry, The Idea of Order, published in 2002. He wrote a column for the Amarillo Globe News from 1992 until May, 2003. Robert had a terrific dry wit that survived even after years of suffering from Alzheimer's disease. We will miss that wit and most of all the man who enriched the lives of his family for 87 years. A celebration of his life will be held in Amarillo, Texas in November.