Robert Allen Daugherty

The world has lost a faithful, loyal extraordinary man, Robert Allen "Bob" Daugherty, a dedicated and accomplished photojournalist who passed away at the age of 86 on July 21, 2025. Born on January 16, 1939, in Bath County, Kentucky, Bob's early life was rooted in hard work on his family's tobacco farm in rural Kentucky. His journey took a transformative turn when his family relocated to Marion, IN, during his teenage years. There, Bob discovered a passion for photography that would define his life and career.
Obtaining his first camera at the age of 15, he volunteered on the Marion High School Newspaper, and earned money working for the Marion Chronicle Tribune. His camera gave him a new window to the world and he never looked back.
Several years later he was recruited by the Indianapolis STAR. It was there that he met his future wife Stephanie, a staff writer at the STAR. They were married in 1963, the same year that he was recruited by the Associated Press beginning a 43-year career with the AP.
40 of his 43 years were spent in the Washington, DC bureau of The Associated Press, where he served as staff photographer covering Capitol Hill, the Gulf War and numerous Kentucky Derbies, Masters Golf Classics, World Series, national political conventions, Nixon's trip to China, Paris Peace Talks, the Gulf War and the Olympics. He rose to Assistant Chief of Bureau for Photos and Director of the State Photo Center. His impressive portfolio included coverage of nine U.S. Presidents including President Lyndon B. Johnson writing the speech in which he declined to run for reelection, Richard Nixon flashing "V for Victory" sign upon departing Washington as President, and Jimmy Carter clasping hands with Middle East leaders after cementing a peace treaty.
Bob won many awards for his outstanding work. In 2009 he was honored by the Washington White House News Photographers Association with a Lifetime Achievement Award as the News Photographer of the Year. In 2015 he was named to the Indiana Journalism Hall of Fame by the Indiana Chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists.
Bob was one of the giants in the world-wide community of Associated Press photos and national news. An AP Photo Editor once said, "Bob stands out as one of the AP's all-time greats, not just for his outstanding photography, but for his presence as a leader, mentor, colleague, and role model.
Bob and Stephanie lived nearly 40 years in Falls Church, VA where, outside of work, Bob cherished moments as his son's soccer coach and an official for the swim meets. Following retirement, he and Stephanie moved to Noblesville, IN to be closer to family.
Bob's legacy will be his kindness, steadiness, and his insistence of quality work. He was a faithful, loyal, good man, and will be remembered for his leadership, witty quips and sense of humor.
Suffering from a series of health complications in recent years, he maintained his stoic resolve, ever positive, never questioning, always ready to move to the next challenge. Following Bob's wishes, no formal funeral was held. Rather his life was celebrated August 10 at a private Celebration of Life ceremony in Noblesville, IN.