Major Dad....aka...."Popi"

(Rob) Robbie Gene Van Stavern, Major, US Army, Retired & Retired Educator

Robbie Gene married Emily Lustgarden in Odessa, Tex on Aug 30 1968...we were in our senior year of college at Texas Tech.

Children: Carissa Shay (stillborn 12/16/70), Myka Paige, Mykal Todd

I never liked my first name and shortened it in college to Rob. I found out in 2001 that my birth certificate had my name as Bobbie so I had to get it changed back to Robbie...too late in life for changes or anything else. I had a relatively normal childhood, with the usual events associated with growing up. (paper route, school, sports, illnesses, fights, and a few friends (George Massey, Harlen Hines, and Jerry Johnson were my neighbor hood friends). Never will forget that whipping I got from the Principal the first week of school in 1st grade...funny thing was, I was not the one that was guilty and she found out when she told me that whipping should remind me not to whistle in the bathroom anymore (with tears in my eyes, I said "but I don't know how to whistle") I guess that is why I am so warped today?

Another funny thing about that little neighborhood nobody had much but all the kids went to college. Jerry Johnson became a pro baseball player for San Francisco Giants. Harlen Hines could have been but chose to be a teacher and coach instead. His big brother was a teacher and coach as well. His baseball team won the first state championship at Midland High School. George Massey went on to college and last I heard was a English teacher. Then there were the Berry kids lived down the street. Mickey was golden gloves national champion, Royce played at University of Houston and Cincinnati Bengals. Seems like everyone expected their kids to do better than they did and they all did in one way or another.

The one highlight of my youth was going to visit Mamaw and Granddad on the J.L. Johnson Ranch where they lived in a company house for the Atlantic Oil Company. The family life revolved around activities at the Church of Christ where my dad was a leader. The real highlight of my live has always been my wife and our family. I met Emily Lustgarden at Day's Drive Inn one evening after I had graduated from high school. I was working for The Texas Highway Department and attending college at night. I believe it must have been love at first sight because we dated continually until we were seniors at Texas Tech. My dad performed the wedding ceremony and Monte (my brother and best friend) was the best man.

I was the first of my family to go to and graduate from college. I earned a senior level fellowship in special education. I earned the majority of my other college expenses working as road inspector for the highway dept, bill collector for Western Auto, life guard & Red Cross swimming and water safety instructor for Odessa Country Club & Ector County Parks Dept, and games director in the youth & recreation centers for Lubbock Parks. I was on the dean's list every semester I was in college at Tech. I graduated in 1969 with a bachelor of science degree in Elementary Education. While at Tech I was a member and officer of the local chapter of Phi Epsilon Kappa national PE fraternity. I was the historian and editor of the newsletter.

After graduation, I was drafted into the army and spend two years on active duty with service in Vietnam. In a 26 year career, I have been awarded 15 decorations including the Bronze Star, the Army Commendation Medal w/oak leaf cluster, and the Army Achievement Medal w/oak leaf cluster (oak leaf cluser means second award). I was awarded a direct commission as a 1st Lt and retired with the rank of Major. My military education was in Infantry Officer Basic, Civil Affairs Advanced Officer Course and the Military Police Advance Officer Course. My military service took to me all over the USA, Vietnam, Japan, Thailand, Okanawa, Germany (2 times), Honduras, Guatemala, & Panama. I retired after 26 years active and reserve service.

On the civilian side of the house, I attended Graduate School at Tech and received a M.Ed. in 1973. I have additional post graduate work at Prairie View A & M and the University of Texas of the Permian Basin. I taught school in Odessa at the same elementary I attended and at Odessa High School. I served as assistant director of Special Education in Baytown, TX. I worked at several sales positions in Houston and Odessa in the oil industry and returned to Education in 1979. I taught two more years and served as an intern Principal at Travis, Milam and Rusk prior to becoming Principal at West Elementary; in Midland, TX. I was also principal at South for 6 years and Fannin for 11 years prior to my retirement in 2000. In 1997, I was named Elementary Principal of the year for Texas by the Texas Foreign Language Teacher Association. Not bad for a kid that many thought would never amount to anything.