Robert Wilson "Bob" Greer, 88, passed away Saturday, February 15, 2014, at the Comanche County Hospital in Coldwater, Kansas.
Bob was born January 20, 1926, in Fort Worth, Texas. He was the son of Curtis Oliver and Annie (Wilson) Greer.
By age 4-5, he had decided journalism would be his career choice. As he sat in the crowd at a professional wrestling match, young Bob saw reporters around the ring with their typewriters. This was great, he thought, they get paid to write and go to sports events.
Growing up during the Depression, Bob's family sold peaches door to door. Bob and his brother Curtis shined shoes and sold newspapers as children.
In 1937, as a fifth grader, Bob won a contest to name his grade school newspaper — "The Broadcast" — winning him a seat as assistant editor saying "I only wanted to write sports."
At age 18 Bob joined the US Navy, being discharged two years later.
Earning his GED in 1950, Bob enrolled at the University of Boulder in Colorado, his dad being there at that time as the university's baker. There Bob became a paid reporter, covering sports for the college paper for a $15 pay check.
During a bridge construction job in 1951, Bob suffered head injuries as lightning triggered a dynamite explosion. These injuries resulted in his getting a metal plate in his head, removing any doubt of Bob's "hard headedness."
Bob's first fulltime job was for the Alliance Daily News in Nebraska in 1955. He worked at several different papers in Colorado and Nebraska, landing at the Garden City Telegram in 1959.
Bob met and married Wilma Brasher July 17, 1965, in Scott City, Kansas. She survives. They have two children: Gene and wife Linda of Garden City and Donnie of Raymore, Mo; grandchildren: Timothy Haunschild and his wife Brittany and Kaitlin Woods and her husband Brandon; ten great-grandchildren; Bob's sister-in-law LaVaughn Greer and numerous nieces and nephews.
Bob stayed at the Garden City Telegram 18 years before working for the Scott City News Chronicle, later working for the Dodge City Daily Globe as the sports editor.
Bob first came to Protection, Kansas, as a reporter for the newspaper chain that owned The Protection Post. Townspeople asked Bob to start up his own paper in Protection. The first edition of the Protection Press was issued January 9, 1986. After a month of passing out free papers, his paid subscription list was growing strong.
From this time until September 2013 Bob was actively involved in his weekly paper as Publisher, Editor, Sportswriter, weather reporter, Democrat enthusiast, and always Bobbing Along Broadway.
His memberships included Kansas Press Association and Protection Lions Club. He served on numerous rec commission boards.
In 1976, Greer received the Oscar Stauffer Sportswriter Award from the Kansas High School Activities Association, the second person to win the award. Last year, Greer received the Clyde M. Reed Jr. Master Editor Award from the Kansas Press Association.
He was preceded in death by his parents, his brother Curtis Greer, half-brother Clayton Collins; his sister Pauline Grace, and an infant sister.

Friends may call from 2:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m, Thursday, February 20, 2014, (Family will greet friends from 6-7) at Hatfield-Prusa Funeral Home, Coldwater, KS.

Funeral service is at 11:00 a.m., Friday, February 21, 2014 at South Central Middle School Gymnasium in Protection with Pastor Brandon Hagins presiding. Burial will be in the Protection Cemetery in Protection, KS.

Memorials may be sent to Protection Township Library in care of Hatfield-Prusa Funeral Home, PO Box 417, Coldwater KS 67029.