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December 22, 1947 – June 19, 1995
Robert George McGlaughlin, known in school by his friends as “Robin” or “Mac” died tragically in a car accident near his home in Richfield, North Carolina on June 19, 1995. He was 47 and an elementary school teacher since 1970 when he graduated from Pfeiffer College (now Pfeiffer University, since 1996) in Misenheimer, NC. He’d taught 5th through 8th grades at Central Elementary and Albemarle Middle School in Stanly County.
Back then, Robin was survived by his mother Eleanor Teague McGlaughlin and two brothers, Jim (James William, 3rd) and John (John Frederick Teague) McGlaughlin. His father, James William McGlaughlin Jr, predeceased him in 1991. Both of his parents were also elementary teachers, in the Millburn school system. His mother taught second grade at the South Mountain and Hartshorn schools for over 25 years; his father was a sixth-grade teacher at Wyoming School.
At MHS, Robin played basketball and ran the high and low hurdles in track. Records show that he developed an interest in art starting as early as the third grade. That continued into his teaching career where his students reported that he was quite an artist, often drawing holiday art on the chalk board. “Mr. Mac” read the Hobbit to his class and had a dog named Gandalf. He supplemented his teaching with a job at John’s Tavern. Late in his career, he worked at a manufacturing plant in Norwood and was a sales representative with Horizon Foods.
The town of Richfield, NC is adjacent to the village of Misenheimer. Following his death, a Service of Remembrance in Bob’s honor was held at the Pfeiffer Chapel (United Methodist), located on the Pfeiffer College campus in Misenheimer.
We believe the illustration at the top could be a self-portrait drawn by Bob. It is shared with us here by Tommy Taylor, another teacher in the Albemarle City Schools, who found it in the 1970 Pfeiffer College yearbook. He posted it with a bio in the Find A Grave memorial for Robert George “Robin, Mr. Mac, or Bob” McGlaughlin. Tommy remembers his friend’s “magical and booming personality” and that Bob was well-loved and respected by his students over the years.
On August 5th, 1995, the Cheyenne Club in Rockwell, NC sponsored a “Bob McGlaughlin Day” in celebration of his life.
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