I knew Bob at Edison Elementary and at Reford High, although he was in the '55 winter class and I was in the '55 spring. I was somewhat jealous of his assured manner and his ability to obtain relationships with members of the opposite sex. What we mainly had in common was music. He was an excellent bass player (both string bass and tuba), and I played the trumpet. I believe he was in Gene Fenby's orchestra as was I. We got together at my parent's Detroit house in 1957 for a jam session. (Jerry Stockwell, of a younger Redford class, was also there.) I think he was still gigging at that time. He was very encouraging of my music arranging. Bob was a very interesting guy whom I wish I had known better. The last time I saw him was at the 1995 reunion, and he was on the bandstand sitting in with the Fenby-Carr Trio. -- Jim Beauchamp
Thomas Tullsen (1955)
Bob was the only enemy I had in Edison Grade School. I snitched on him for squirting the blackboard with a squirt gun in Ms. Rilling's class.
After class he was waiting for me with his school chum Brian. After threatening me we got into a pushing match and he let me go by.
Fortunately Brian did not intervene. Later Brian was shot and killed after an attempted car theft while running from the police.
Bob and I were on good terms at Redford.
James Beauchamp (1955)
I knew Bob at Edison Elementary and at Reford High, although he was in the '55 winter class and I was in the '55 spring. I was somewhat jealous of his assured manner and his ability to obtain relationships with members of the opposite sex. What we mainly had in common was music. He was an excellent bass player (both string bass and tuba), and I played the trumpet. I believe he was in Gene Fenby's orchestra as was I. We got together at my parent's Detroit house in 1957 for a jam session. (Jerry Stockwell, of a younger Redford class, was also there.) I think he was still gigging at that time. He was very encouraging of my music arranging. Bob was a very interesting guy whom I wish I had known better. The last time I saw him was at the 1995 reunion, and he was on the bandstand sitting in with the Fenby-Carr Trio. -- Jim Beauchamp