Converse Mourns the Loss of Beloved Former Professor ‘Botany Bob’ Robert Powell Jr.

Written by Karen Rhodes

Much beloved and known by his Converse alumni and colleagues simply as “Botany Bob,” Robert W. Powell Jr., Charles A. Dana Professor Emeritus of Biology, passed away on Monday, September 7, 2026. Powell served on the faculty at Converse from 1963 until his retirement in 1999, almost always with a four-color retractable Bic pen in his pocket.

“‘Botany Bob’ Powell was a true Converse treasure,” shared Converse President Boone Hopkins, PhD. “His passion for botany, his love of teaching, and his enthusiasm for sharing the natural world touched generations of students and friends. His legacy will continue to grow from the seeds he planted across our campus and in all those he inspired.” 

Born on November 11, 1929, in Mobile, AL, and raised in Memphis, TN, Powell’s journey in academia began with a B.S. from Memphis State College, followed by an M.S. at the University of Houston, and culminating in a PhD from Duke University. He was married for 62 years to his beloved wife, Sandra, whom he met on a blind date at Duke. Together, they raised four children, all of whom pursued higher education and are now leaders in their professions and communities. 

Described by students as a “tough professor with a heart of gold,” Powell was known for his deep commitment to academic excellence and compassionate mentorship.

Powell’s career was marked by a diverse range of experiences, including serving as a Forest Pathologist at the Southeastern Forest Experimental Station for the USFS and dedicating four years as a Clinical Laboratory Specialist with the rank of Staff Sergeant in the U.S. Air Force during the Korean War. Dr. Powell’s teaching career began at Memphis State College and Humboldt State College. 

“Botany Bob” is Born

He then arrived at Converse, where he served as a faculty member and chair of the Biology Department and became known by the nickname “Botany Bob.” He tirelessly and passionately shared his knowledge with students for 36 years. During his time at Converse, Powell taught a variety of courses, ranging from general biology to ornithology. 

His dedication to teaching was recognized with accolades such as the Sears Roebuck Faculty Leadership Award in 1990, the Spirit of Converse Award in 1999, and the Honorary Alumni Award in 2024. Described by students as a “tough professor with a heart of gold,” Powell was known for his deep commitment to academic excellence and compassionate mentorship. 

Out-of-the-box Experiences

As a biology major, past Converse Trustee Palmer Davidson Ball ’84 was no stranger to Powell’s classes, noting that “field trips” were abundant. Experiences included walks through the woods of Powell’s Camp Croft property, monitoring the health of the pond that belonged to a good friend, conducting environmental and climate studies at Mount Mitchell, and taking final exam walks through the Converse Heights neighborhood, during which students were charged with identifying plants by their Latin names. “He always joked that he could tell who didn’t know what poison ivy was because they’d be touching it,” Ball recalled with a chuckle.

But her favorite memory with Botany Bob was taking a short-term topical biology class studying marine life in the U.S. Virgin Islands. Students spent the first part of the course in the Converse pool learning to dive, then drove to Florida, spending time at a bird sanctuary and then in the Everglades before flying to the Virgin Islands. 

“There are a lot of things you can educate people about, ways to better appreciate the world you live in. And if you love something, you’re going to take care of it.”

Robert “Botany Bob” Powell Jr.

“It was a fabulous week of diving,” Ball reminisced. And Powell remembered the trip fondly, too. “He shared this memory every time I saw him. He always said I was the first one in the water and the last one out. When we went night diving, he laughed that he could see me way off in the distance, underwater with my flashlight. I have such great memories of him taking us on that trip.”

Making an Impact

Powell’s passion for the Converse student experience lives on. In 2007, Dr. Margaret Fern Powell ’86 created the Botany Bob Student Research and Travel Fund in honor of her father to recognize his many years of dedication and leadership. This fund provides support for Converse’s Department of Biology and helps defray expenses for students interested in, and to projects involving, field botany. 

In His Own Words

“To enjoy nature, you don’t need a whole lot of fancy golf equipment or off-the-road vehicles,” Powell told his students during a tour of Converse’s front lawn on a sunshine-filled Earth Day morning back in 1990, as reported by the local newspaper. He shared tidbits about the surrounding trees, grasses, mosses, flowers, and more. 

“There are a lot of things you can educate people about, ways to better appreciate the world you live in,” he explained. “And if you love something, you’re going to take care of it.”

From your Converse community: Take care, Botany Bob.