Campus news
Robert W. Shaner, chair of CMU Board of Trustees, dies The Central Methodist family continues to mourn the death of longtime university friend and benefactor Robert W. (Bob) Shaner who died Sept. 6 at his home in Hilton Head, S.C., following a lengthy illness. He was 60. A 1970 CMU graduate and well-known in Fayette, Shaner was serving as chairman of the Central Methodist Board of Trustees. He was elected to the board in 1999 and had served as chairman since May 2004. A native of Farmington, Mo., Shaner was married to Fayette native Louann Thogmorton ’70. She survives, as do their two children. Also surviving are his father-in-law and mother-in-law, retired CMU Dean of Students James P. Thogmorton ’43 and his wife, Helen ’43, both of Fayette, and his sister-inlaw, Cathy Thogmorton ’71, also of Fayette. “Bob Shaner’s life reflected the Central Methodist mission of ‘making a difference in the world.’ We are a stronger and better institution because of his inspirational and servant leadership,” says CMU President Marianne Inman. Two weeks after graduating with a chemistry degree from Central in 1970, Shaner began a career in telecommunications that spanned more than 32 years. Beginning as a chief switchman for Southwestern Bell Telephone in East St. Louis, Ill., he advanced rapidly within the phone company in Illinois and Missouri. He was one of the pioneers of wireless communications, which took him from St. Louis, to Chicago, Dallas, Paris, San Francisco, and ultimately Atlanta, where he was part of the executive leadership that created Cingular Wireless. He retired from Cingular in January 2003, shortly before the formation of the current AT&T. At the time of his death, Shaner was chairman of the board of Mobility Electronics and managing partner of Performance Management Associates. In addition to his degree from CMU, he had done graduate work at Southern Illinois University and Stanford. Music was always part of Shaner’s life, whether vocal or instrumental. He and Louann, his wife of 38 years, met their freshman year while singing in Luther Spayde’s A Cappella Choir. He was equally at home on a baseball field or the golf course, and was an avid outdoorsman who loved fishing,
Fall 2008
hunting and camping. Shaner attributed many of his leadership skills to having been an Eagle Scout. In addition to his wife and in-laws, Shaner is survived by daughter and son-in-law, Jami and Jim Mataya of Chicago, and son and daughter-in-law, Rob and Thowaiba Shaner, of Brooklyn, N.Y. Also considered as family are Peter and Catarina Lovgren of Uppsala, Sweden, and Cedric and Julie Tolliver of Philadelphia. In Farmington, he is survived by his mother, Rebecca Shaner, and a brother, Dr. Jim Shaner and his family. A funeral service was conducted Sept. 13 at Memorial United Methodist Church in Farmington. Shaner’s ashes will be scattered in the waters off Hilton Head Island where he came to know true freedom. A public celebration of his life was held at the Long Cove Clubhouse. Memorial contributions may be designated to Central Methodist University and the Boys and Girls Clubs of America. The editor wishes to thank Jim Steele of the Fayette Advertiser and Democrat-Leader newspapers for his contributions to this article.
The Magazine of Central Methodist University
The Talon
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