Dr. Bob Powell was Professor of Physics and Director of the University of West Georgia Observatory. His career at the University of West Georgia spanned half a century.

He was born on January 15, 1941, in Moultrie, Georgia, to James Ralph Powell and Leila Mae Powell. He graduated from Moultrie High School, received a Bachelor of Science Degree in Physics (1963) from the Georgia Institute of Technology and a Master of Science (1965) and Ph.D (1967) from Clemson University.

He began his teaching career at West Georgia College in September 1967, serving for 50 years in the roles of professor of physics, Acting Chair of the Department of Physics (1983-1984 and 1994-1995), Chair of the Department of Physics (2005-2014), and Director of the West Georgia Observatory.

Dr. Powell directed student projects in solid state physics and in astronomy. He also worked extensively with area pre-college teachers and in-service teachers. He received grants from the Georgia Department of Energy Resources and the Eisenhower Program (1987-1997) and the Math Science Partnership Program of the Georgia Department of Education (2007-2016) to offer professional development for teachers.

In addition, Dr. Powell served as faculty advisor of the Physics Club for several years and as faculty advisor of the Phi Kappa Chapter of the Chi Omega Sorority for over thirty-five years. For this service, he was recognized as the campus student organization advisor of the year in 2002, 2004, and 2011.

From 1996-2005, he was the West Georgia Coordinator for the Post-Secondary Readiness Enrichment Program (PREP) to provide assistance in area schools and worked with Project STARR, a West Georgia summer program for students in at-risk situations.

Dr. Powell served as president of the Georgia Academy of Science and twice as president of the Southern Atlantic Coastal Section of the American Association of Physics Teachers. He was active at the national level in the American Association of Physics Teachers and participated in the Telescopes in Education Program at the Mt. Wilson Observatory.

Other honors include: Fellow, Georgia Academy of Science (elected in April 1979); the Distinguished Professor Award presented by the West Georgia College Alumni Association in 1981 (in recognition of contributions to profession, community, and West Georgia College); the Honors Professor of the Year, 2007-2008; the Homer L. Dodge Distinguished Service Citation conferred by the American Association of Physics Teachers in July 2013; the Dr. Melanie McClellan Distinguished Service Award, April 2017; the Recognition of 50 Years of Service Trophy given by the University of West Georgia on May 5, 2017; Fellow of the American Association of Physics Teachers, July 2017, and Honors Professor of the Year. He published numerous books, papers, and journal articles.

Upon his retirement, he established the Powell Family Scholarship to increase the number of highly qualified physics majors at the University of West Georgia.

Dr. Powell had a passion for star-gazing. His hobbies included genealogical research, photography, traveling to scenic and historical sites, and studying U.S. Civil War history.

Bob Powell died at age 82 in Carrollton on May 5, 2023.