Dr. Robert L Soulen

January 19, 1932 –August 17, 2024: As a young boy in Kansas during the 1930’s and 1940’s the “do-it-yourself” attitude gave Robert (Bob) Soulen a rich background in the way things work and a love of science and nature. Being the son of a Methodist minister and having a mother who was involved in the church ensured he was first and foremost given a firm foundation of faith and service to others. Bob also enjoyed scouting and attained its highest achievement Eagle Scout. In 1954 after graduation from Baker University with a concentration in chemistry and physics, he was drafted into the US Army Signal Corp to become a Specialist in Microwave Radio Communication. His honeymoon that same year with the love of his life, Lola Lee Hendrickson, who he met his senior year at Baker University consisted of reporting for active duty to Fort Monmouth, New Jersey. By 1960 after military service was completed and a PhD degree obtained in organic chemistry from Kansas State University, he joined Jefferson Chemical Research Labs (a division of Texaco) in Austin, Texas. Research efforts there centered on polymerization of propylene and the developments of newer polyols for fire-resistant rigid and flexible polyurethane foams.  In 1964 he became part of the chemistry faculty at Southwestern University in Georgetown as the first Lillian N Pratt Chair Professor of Science, the first of six chairs funded by The Brown Foundation of Houston. He and the other chairs created a lecture series in 1978 known as Brown Symposium which brought internationally known speakers to campus and attracted an audience of scholars from across Texas. Personal grants from the National Science Foundation, the Robert A Welch Foundation, the Naval Research Laboratories of Washington D.C., Texas Crushed Stone and the Sneed Research Group supported and encouraged postdoctoral and undergraduate research at Southwestern and secured numerous advanced pieces of laboratory equipment which otherwise would not have been available for undergraduate studies.

In 32 years at SU he served 20 years as Chairman of the Chemistry Department and also directed research projects for seven postdoctoral fellows and over one hundred undergraduate students. He was affectionately known by students, as “Bullet Bob” and “Dr. Electron.” Discoveries of unique reactions of organofluorine compounds facilitated many lectures at universities and conferences in Europe, Canada and the US.  During tenure at SU he enjoyed sabbatical and summer research studies at the University of Colorado, the University of British Columbia, Basel University Switzerland, the University of Durham England, U.S. Naval Research Labs Washington, D.C. and the University of Texas. Teaching and research awards include the CASE (Council for the Advancement and Support of Education) National Gold Medalist and Texas Professor of the Year Award, the Finch Award, the Gilbert A. Ayres Award, Texas Academy of Science Fellow and AAAS Fellow. Professional activities in the American Chemical Society at the state and national levels included chairmanship of four national committees and service on the ACS Board of Directors Washington DC, the Board of Trustees ACS Insurance Trust and the Chemical Heritage Foundation of Philadelphia. Soon after retirement from Southwestern University in 1996, he joined the research team of Exfluor Research Corp of Round Rock where “Dr. Bob” worked for 10 years on process improvements and synthesis of unique organofluorine compounds. Over 55 years of research have produced 18 U.S. and foreign patents and over 50 publications. He retired a second time in 2007 to enjoy more time for travels. In 2013, now named Professor Emeritus, he experienced the pinnacle of his career by being designated a Fellow of the ACS that he was a member of for 69 years.

Bob was a member of First United Methodist Church for 60 years where he sang in the choir, taught Sunday School and held numerous leadership positions. Known for singing solos at weddings, funerals, church, and Christmas Eve services, his rich bass voice could also be heard in barber shop quartet performances, local choir ensembles and musical productions at Southwestern. His community service consisted of being President of the Lions Club, a Georgetown Housing Authority Commissioner, a KGTN DJ for a Classical Music Sunday Night Program, and was on the Board of Directors for The Wesleyan.

A true family man, he was quick to speak of his love for his wife, his three children, five grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren. He is survived by wife, Lola, married 69 years. His other survivors include: Karin Soulen Book and husband Brad, their children; Dwight Ellis and wife Sarah, their children Maisie and August, Shannon Ellis Gove and husband Derek, their children Lola, Noel and Molly, Ashley Book Harms and husband Tyler, Allyson Book, Chad Book and wife Hannah, and Chase Book, Stephen Lewis Soulen and wife Melanie Stanley-Soulen, their children David Soulen and wife Lauren, their child Olivia, Stan Soulen and his wife Morganne, their children, Max, Lucy, Jace and Huxley, Julie Savage and husband Joe, her child, Nicole Jenkins and partner Kevin Watson, Joe’s children Mandy Savage Hodges and children Garrett and Mason, Codie Savage and partner Colter Wendler and son Cash, Joey and wife, Liz Savage.

In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts can be made to the Dr. Robert L. Soulen Endowed Scholarship Fund @ PO Box 770, Georgetown, Texas 78627 or FUMC Georgetown, Music Ministry, 410 East University Avenue, Georgetown, Texas, 78626.

A Celebration of Life is scheduled for Saturday, October 26, 2024 at 10 a.m. at First United Methodist Church, Georgetown, Texas.