Robert “Bob” Lanier, who was the longest-serving member of the teaching faculty in the history of Jesuit College Preparatory School of Dallas, passed away in February. Born in Jacksonville, Texas, Lanier was a lifelong resident of the Lone Star State. Soon after graduating from Stephen F. Austin, Lanier became the first biology teacher at Jesuit Dallas and was the first non-Catholic member of the faculty. His tenure at Jesuit began in July 1965, and he retired from the classroom in 2015 after 50 years of service to the mission and students of Jesuit. “The neatest thing I ever did (at Jesuit), was taking students all over the world during the summer,” recounted Lanier in a 2015 story with The RoundUp. “Africa, Borneo, Australia, all through Central and South America. The place I’ve been to most is Peru and the Amazon. That’s my favorite place in the world, the Amazon River.” Lanier developed a lifelong passion for biology as a high school student and gave his life to educating and forming the young men of Jesuit. Until his death, Lanier, who first hired President Mike Earsing to teach chemistry and social studies, maintained close ties with hundreds of alumni and their families. “These are the people I know,” said Lanier. “These are my friends. Most of the people in my life are former students.” Bob Lanier had an enormous personality and a welcoming presence. Thousands of Jesuit Dallas alumni hold him in the highest regard, including current Science Department chair Dr. Todd Gruninger ’98, who quipped, “He was one of the main reasons I returned to teach at Jesuit. I loved his class.” Added Principal Tom Garrison ’92, “It was a big deal to be in Dr. Bob’s class. It was exciting and we thought it was cool to be learning college-level science.”
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