Aggies Lose Long-Time Supporter Bob Stallings After Officiating at Speedo Junior National Championships

COLLEGE STATION, Texas, August 10. THE swimming community lost a strong supporter when official Bob Stallings passed away after officiating at the Speedo Junior National Championships in Indianapolis on Aug. 9. Stallings, a long-time supporter of Texas A&M, has been honored by the school on its web site via the following release:

Stallings was a staple at Texas A&M swimming & diving events long before the university opened the Student Rec Center Natatorium. He attended A&M in the late 1960s, graduating in 1970. He swam for four years for the Aggies for both coaching legend Art Adamson as well as Pat Patterson.

Stallings, a semi-retired financial advisor, was a big supporter of all sports at Texas A&M as evidenced by his continued support of the Maroon Club which provides support to all of the Aggies' women's athletic teams. He also was the treasurer for the local club team, Aggie Swim Club, for many, many years.

Bob was both passionate about Texas A&M and passionate about the sport of swimming and he combined those loves into many years of service as the Aggies' head starter at meets. Not only did Bob officiate A&M meets but served in that capacity for many other schools as well as at many USA Swimming club meets around the state. Stallings prided himself not only on doing a professional job as a meet official but on the performance of the Aggies' teams and the people that made them up as well.

Tentatively, a viewing will be scheduled for Tuesday with a funeral taking place on Wednesday in the Bryan-College Station area.

Bob will be known best for the way he touched lives during his time as a supporter of the program. The people that he touched can speak to that best:

‘Bob Stallings will be missed by everyone associated with swimming & diving in the Texas A&M community. He cared about us doing well by doing the right things. For our school we have not worried about getting good officials for any of our meets as he coordinated it all. We would just send him the schedule and he made sure it all got done. Personally I know of two things he cared intensely about: one was swimming as evidenced by all the time he spent voluntarily traveling around our state and country working meets. The other is his girls and grandchild. If we weren't talking swimming were usually were talking about what our families were up to. Bob's passing reminds me that while the things we do are important, it's the people who do all these things that are most important.'

–Jay Holmes, Texas A&M Men's Swimming Coach

‘Bob was one of our biggest fans. He was one of the nicest guys you'll ever meet. He was always very happy and upbeat. It's a big loss for Texas A&M swimming, the Bryan-College Station swimming community/Aggie Swim Club, and swimming in general in the whole state of Texas. He officiated not only at A&M and in the Gulf Swimming Association but all over the state. It's obviously a terrible loss for all his family and friends. He will definitely be missed by many, many people.'

-Steve Bultman, Texas A&M Women's Swimming Coach

‘It is with great sadness that I write. Bob Stallings was an integral part of our original move to College Station and continued to be throughout our time at Texas A&M. Bob watched our children grow up within the community and supported them along the way. He was a special friend to Texas A&M diving. The Wright family will miss Bob but not forget him. Our thoughts and prayers are with the Stallings family.'

-Kevin Wright, Texas A&M Diving Coach

‘Bob always loved to talk about the teams, how the kids were doing and what our prospects were for the upcoming year. He was one of the few people I could ‘talk shop' to and not have to explain the significance of many of the things going on in the pool because he had such a strong knowledge of not only the sport but the history of the A&M program. He was very excited in recent years about the progress of our women's team, so much to the point he almost took a personal trip to Big 12's in Missouri in 2006 just to see how well they would do. Little did we all know that one year later he would have the best seat in the house to arguably the greatest A&M swimming team accomplishment in the history of this school. Fittingly, his proudest moment as a swimming official would be his final collegiate meet to officiate. He may not be here with us in body any more, but his kind and giving spirit will be felt around this program for a long, long time to come."

-Chris Harrell, Texas A&M Media Relations

‘Bob Stallings was there for me from the beginning. From day one of my college career, he was at every swimming meet with a hug and always wanted to know how my life had gone since we last met. When I was injured, he was one of the people I could count on to keep my spirits up and to tell me to have the guts to keep going. With every improvement on my way back up to top form I'd get a pat on the back and the grin that told me how proud he was of me. When Big 12's came around this year, it was Bob who gave me the fiercest hug after winning the 100 fly. I'm pretty sure I saw tears in his eyes. I got the same reaction after the team won the meet. Bob cared about each and every swimmer on the team with similar fashion. Though he is gone, I can console myself with the thought that Bob got to witness the amazing journey the women's swim team had this year. It was a roller coaster ride and Bob was there every step of the way. A&M swimming will never be the same without him and I know that he will be missed by many. So thank you Bob, for everything.'

-Nine-time Big 12 Champion Rebecca Sturdy ('07)

‘I'm really not sure how TAMU will be able to host another swim meet without Bob Stallings. He has been the starter and "go-to" guy for running meets here for as long as I can remember. It just won't be the same with out Bob drawling out in his deep voice, "swimmers……take your mark!". He will be sorely missed by the Aggie Swimming and Diving teams.'

-Texas A&M Kinesiology Professor (and Swim Meet Timer Coordinator) Melinda Grant

‘This is Sande Thomson – Whitney's mom. She asked that I pass along her thoughts. She is in Africa (Uganda), volunteering – teaching kids to swim and is unable to email herself. She was so saddened by the passing of Bob Stallings. She was so taken by his kindness to her when she transferred to A&M from UNM. He made it a point to look up her times and always commented to her when she had a good swim. He made it a point to tell her that she had really improved her times. She was so taken back that he would watch her swim. He was always the team's biggest fan and he was always watching. She always thought of him as the team 'Dad' on deck even though he was always impartial. He was a good man and he loved the sport so much. She respected him. He will be missed.'

–Sande Thomson, Mother of 2007 Co-Captain Whitney Thomson

‘Mr. Stallings, or Bob as he would always like us to call him, was a vital member of the Maroon Club. While his passion centered around Aggie swimming and diving he was always supportive of all the women's teams here at A&M. He will truly be missed by our Maroon Club members and staff.'

–Marty Walton, Maroon Club/Letterman's Association

‘Bob is synonymous with Aggie swimming and diving. He was at every home meet I can remember, always greeting us with a warm smile, "good luck", or "nice job". You could tell that he took pride in the team, and he wanted to see each individual do well. Aggie meets won't be the same without him, and he'll truly be missed.'

–Eight-time Big 12 Diving Champion Mark Naftanel ('99)

‘Bob was an avid supporter of Texas A&M and a highly visible member of the College Station Morning Lions. Bob was a very pleasant person to be with and talk to. I always enjoyed sitting at the table with him and sharing breakfast at our Lions Club meetings. Everyone in the club enjoyed Bob's company and his dedication to our fund raising efforts. All of us will miss him deeply.'

— Dave South, Associate Athletic Director, Texas A&M

‘I was so sad to hear of Bob's passing – as soon as I heard the name, his smiling face popped into my mind and I was struck by our loss. There was no better friend to A&M swimming and diving and he will be sorely missed.'

–Kathy Barris ('01)

‘I haven't been swimming for very long and I've been at A&M for even less time, but ever since my first sectional meet, I can remember seeing Bob at every home meet. Once I started swimming here, there wasn't a single meet that went by where I didn't get a "Good Job!" from Bob. I've seen him at the pool days before every home meet, conferring with coaches and checking with the Rec Center staff, ensuring that our competitions went on without a hitch. He did so much for us; often things we didn't even realize. Whenever he was on deck, it seemed like he was constantly smiling. I have really never met anyone as involved and supportive of our program (beside maybe our coaches) as Bob. It's nice to know he's in a better place. Thanks and Gig 'Em, Bob! You'll be greatly missed!'

–Tyler Welch ('09)

‘Bob was an amazing friend to the team. He knew everyone on a personal level and wanted it that way. It was always comforting to hear him say "Take your mark…." You knew the last person that said something to you before your race was wanting you to achieve your goals just as much as you! He always, always, always, had a smile on his face! Being an official he couldn't cheer out loud for us but you know every single race he was screaming inside for every swimmer in maroon and white in the water. He cared enough about us not just as swimmers but as individual people and wanted to know what was going on with us. I am going to miss him being at the meets. Even though I am not going to be in the water representing the team with an A&M cap on my head…not having him on the pool deck is going to be weird. My family knows who he is — not because they have met him a few times — but because I have talked about him many, many times to them. It's hard to believe that he is gone and the familiar voice saying "Take your mark…" will not be there and the consistently smiling face on the pool deck will be gone. The #1 A&M swimming and diving fan will now be cheering us from above in spirit. We know he will never stop cheering and supporting our team. He can finally scream his lungs out while the team is racing and not have to hold back any longer!'

–Texas A&M 200 butterfly school record holder Meghan Nebera ('07)

Special thanks to Texas A&M for contributing this report.

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