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Robert Percy Collier ’42

Robert Percy Collier ’42, October 23, 2003, in Bellingham, Washington. Rox received a BA from Reed in political science, then joined the U.S. Navy. He flew transports stateside, and later flew as a commercial pilot before enrolling at Stanford University, where he received a PhD in economics in 1955. Rox was an assistant professor at the University of Washington (1951–52), an associate professor at Occidental College (1952–57), and then took a position as professor of economics and dean of the College of Business and Social Sciences at Utah State University. In 1976 he accepted a position of dean of the newly created College of Business at Western Washington University, and later taught economics there. He served as an exchange faculty member at Cambridge University; and at Asia University, Tokyo, Japan, where he lectured on U.S.–Japanese economics. His community and professional associations included the Red Cross, the American Association of Colleges of Business, Rotary Club, and membership at the First Congregational Church. He helped found the Nazlini Health Clinic on the Navajo Reservation. Rox worked with wood, and carved family-related images on totem poles. He also enjoyed camping, fishing, sailing and travel. He married Constance Sayre ’45 in 1943, and the couple raised five children, including Catherine Collier ’68. Other family members who attended Reed were his mother, Ruth Graybill Collier ’32; and sisters, Jane Collier Anderson ’37 and Miriam Collier Hope ’39. Survivors include his wife; his daughter and four sons; seven grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; and his sister, Jane.

Appeared in Reed magazine: May 2004

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