Robert Majors
November 23, 1934 ~ October 25, 2023
Robert 'Bob', 'Maj' Majors, 88, passed away on Wednesday, October 25, 2023, at home in Mount Vernon, Iowa, surrounded by family.
Graveside Service: Saturday, May 11, 2024, at 1:00 p.m., at Mount Vernon Cemetery. Reception will follow at 2:00 p.m. at Gwen's Restaurant, Lisbon, for a Celebration of Life.
Bob Majors was born and raised in Omaha, Nebraska, the son of Charles and Sylvia (Widows) Majors. He graduated from Omaha North High in 1953. While there, he earned varsity letters in football, wrestling, and baseball. Bob was a varsity letter winner in wrestling throughout his four-year high school career and won state titles as a junior and senior.
He went to Cornell College in Mount Vernon, Iowa, where he won three Mid-West Conference Wrestling Championships and qualified for the NCAA Wrestling Championships all three years.
He won the Nebraska AAU Wrestling Championship in 1954 and was named the Omaha/Council Bluffs area outstanding collegiate wrestler in 1955. He was elected outstanding wrestler in his senior year at Cornell and served as President of the school's Letterman's Club.
After graduating from Cornell in 1957, Bob secured a teaching and coaching position at Sweet Home, Oregon, Union High School, where he served as an assistant football and baseball coach and head wrestling coach. His Sweet Home Huskies wrestling teams won the all school state wrestling championship in 1958 and were runner-up in 1959.
While at Sweet Home Bob developed a boy's wrestling program at the local area elementary school level which caught on in popularity and rapidly spread throughout the state. Bob moved to Portland as head wrestling coach at David Douglas and earned another team state title. He was the first coach in Oregon's history to win state wrestling championships at two different high schools. During his five years of active coaching, his teams compiled a 72-9 dual meet record along with 13 individual champions. Several of his wrestlers went on to forge outstanding wrestling careers at the collegiate level and two earned All American status in the NCAA Championships.
Bob served as President of Oregon's Wrestling Coaches Association in 1960-61 and President of the Portland Wrestling Officials Association from 1959-61. He also served as the head wrestling clinician at the University of Oregon's summer sports camps in 1959, 1960, and 1961.
Bob left Oregon and his career as a teacher and coach and returned to Iowa in 1962. He never lost interest in wrestling and in fact, started the youth wrestling program in Mount Vernon, eventually serving more than 30 consecutive years as a volunteer wrestling coach. Bob's coaching philosophy included sound wrestling fundamentals, staying current with and teaching new wrestling techniques, superior conditioning, and his own total commitment to his athletes to help them attain their highest personal level of success. He also believed strongly in promoting and supporting aggressive, but responsible team member leadership.
In spite of space limitations he never closed the door on any boy who wanted to wrestle, and was willing to pay the price required in daily practice sessions. Bob also believed it was imperative to involve parents, family, and friends of his athletes in the program as much as possible.
Bob was a member of Cornell's administrative staff from 1966 to 2000, serving in roles from fundraising to alumni relations. He and his wife, Jan, both widowed in the past, were married in 1978. In 1992, Bob was inducted into the Cornell College Athletics Hall of Fame.
Bob is survived by his wife, Janice; sons, Randy (Kari) Majors and Raymond (Ruth) Majors; six grandchildren, Ryan (Tasha) Whitman, Karissa (Brad) Walker, Jordyn Majors, Luke Majors, Kendra (Jon) Wolff, and Mikayla Whitman; great-grandchildren, Adalynn Whitman, Mia Whitman, Charlie Walker, and Emmett Walker; sister-in-law, Shelly Majors; step-sons, Kevin (Becky) Whitman and Brad (JeRita) Whitman.
He is preceded in death by his parents, first wife, Nancy; brothers, Ralph and Roy Majors; and son, Royce Majors.
Memorials may be made to the Mount Vernon Wrestling Club.
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We are deeply sorry for your loss ~ Stewart Baxter Funeral & Memorial Services – Mount Vernon
Bob was such a great neighbor. We had a lot of laughs and burnt alot of wood together. I’ll cherish my memories of Bob. My sympathys to Jan and the family.
Katrina and I were sorry to learn of Bob’s death. We thoroughly enjoyed getting to know Maj during our early years at Cornell. He was always upbeat, totally committed to the best for Cornell and tireless in his devotion to alumni. I distinctly remember when he mentioned Terry Gibson to me as a possible Vice President for Development, beginning what was to become one of the warmest and most productive partnerships of my career. I’ll always be grateful. We send our sympathy and best wishes to you.
Les Garner
Dearest Janice and family…please know how very sorry we are for your loss. Bob was a reasure..always interested in what was going on and how we were…gentle souls like his are few and far between.
You all have our most sincere sympathy and will be in our thoughts!
Doug and Su
I feel blessed to have many fond memories of Bob. He was a special person in my life. His son Royce was one of my closest friends growing up. He was my youth wrestling coach as a boy and is credited with inspiring countless wrestlers throughout his time as a mentor and coach. The youth program he helped establish in Mount Vernon resulted in many state champions and place winners. I will miss his smile and his laugh. I will miss his words of encouragement and wisdom whether on the mat, the golf course or the course of life. RIP Bob! Sending love to Jan and all the family.
Dear Jan and family,
So sorry to see Bob has passed. It was an honor to have known him. He was a good man and respectful to all. Wishing you peace and solace in fond memories.
Dear Jan and family,
We are so sorry for your loss. Mark and I have many fond memories of spending time with Bob and Jan at Hillcrest and many Iowa football games. Bob always had a special grin on his face. Never a dull moment with Bob around!
Mark & Jo Ellen Cook
Having grown up in MV there were a few people who made a strong impression upon me as I grew up and with that became unforgettable : Mr. Majors did just that.
Be it in the little kids wrestling room or in passing uptown Bob Majors conveyed positive energy and goodwill at all times
Your best interest was always his priority. MV was a better place because of him. My condolences to Randy and all of the Majors family. Thomas Floden
Bob’s knowledge and passion for wrestling was infectious. Beyond that, he was a gentleman. I wrestled with Ray, watched Randy and coached Royce. Each experience brought contact with Bob. I, also, attended Cornell and Bob, again, helped me in my transition. Bob always was welcoming and I am thankful to have known him. Bill Thomsen
Thoughts and prayers to Bob’s family. “Maj” was a great man who will be missed!! Always enjoyed my talks with Maj!!
Condolences to the Majors family. Bob was a fine man; a roll model for Cornell athletes.
Absolutely agree!
Prayers to the Majors family! Bob was a major influence in my life on The Hilltop. I am forever grateful for him -he remains , as I told him often back in the day, my favorite Greenbelly -RIP MAJ -love to Jan!!!
Gus Pasquale
Bob was truly a man amongst men. One of the nicest most dedicated person you’d ever have the pleasure of knowing. I am grateful for all his guidance while at Cornell and after.
I have very fond memories of Bob. As he helped so many young people grow, it is only appropriate a tree be grown in his honor.
I’m sure this will be one if the oldest memories shared…
My husband, John Foens, (1934-2017), Class of 1956, and Bob were good friends during their student years at Cornell. They were roommates and shared housing facilities at the well know “Barracks” located down by the tennis courts. They also were both involved in athletics and were Delta Phi Rho Fraternity brothers. We always called him Bobby, and loved to go to the Cole Bin (student hangout) were Bobby had a part-time work job. He would make John an ice cream sundae 🍧 which we shared. Don’t remember for sure…but couldn’t have cost us more than 15 cents as we only had $5.00 a week between us for spending money. Bobby, being a friend and knowing John was a chocoholic, always put extra chocolate syrup on the ice cream for us. “Thanks, Bobby!” 🤗.
John and I were married July, 1956 and were gifted with 61 years together. I still remember the set of dinnerware Bob and Delt Bros. gave us as a wedding gift. They were always my favorite dishes.
It is my hope that Bob and John are chatting about the ‘old days’ at Cornell (where we all met) and of all the fun memories we shared together.
My heartfelt thoughts are with Bob’s family as they grieve their loss.
Always, Susan Foens ( ex Class of 1958) 🫶
My life is forever touched by your kindness and friendship.
Fond Memories of Hilltop Days!
I’m sure this will be one if the oldest memories shared… My husband, John Foens, (1934-2017), Class of 1956, and Bob were good friends during their student years at Cornell. They were roommates and shared housing facilities at the well know “Barracks” located down by the tennis courts. They also were both involved in athletics and were Delta Phi Rho Fraternity brothers. We always called him Bobby, and loved to go to the Cole Bin (student hangout) were Bobby had a part-time work job. He would make John an ice cream sundae 🍧 which we shared. Don’t remember for sure…but couldn’t have cost us more than 15 cents as we only had $5.00 a week between us for spending money. Bobby, being a friend and knowing John was a chocoholic, always put extra chocolate syrup on the ice cream for us. “Thanks, Bobby!” 🤗. John and I were married July, 1956 and were gifted with 61 years together. I still remember the set of dinnerware Bob and Delt Bros. gave us as a wedding gift. They were always my favorite dishes. It is my hope that Bob and John are chatting about the ‘old days’ at Cornell (where we all met) and of all the fun memories we shared together. My heartfelt thoughts are with Bob’s family as they grieve their loss. Always, Susan Foens ( ex Class of 1958)
I am forever grateful to have Bob as my very good friend for 55 years. Bob was special.
I know of no other who contributed more to Cornell or his Delt brothers. His loyalty and friendship were absolute and given to so many. We are all better to have known him and have him in our lives. Condolences to Jan and family. A truly remarkable man.
Bob “Maj” was truly a life long friend, even years after we both graduated as part of the class of 1957. My sympathy to and best wishes for Jan. ” Maj” was a special person.
Jim and I share many memories of Bob through the years as do all his Class of ‘57 mates. The wrestling team brought Jim and Maj together. Sharing responsibilities as Class agents kept us together through the decades – we shared many laughs and always looked forward to the phone calls when writing class letters or planning reunions. He was a major force in developing our Class of ‘57 scholarship on the occasion of our 50th anniversary. Jim Nicholson ‘59 and Donna Mease Nicholson ‘57
So sorry to hear about Bob’s passing. Deepest sympathies and condolences to Jan and Bob’s family. Bob was a great friend, mentor and big brother to us Delts that passed through Cornell. We’d stay in touch and were so happy when Bob & Jan were able to join us at our various Delt reunions. We look forward to gathering again May 11 to celebrate and honor his life.
We will always remember his life and legacy.
Celebrating Maj’s life & legacy: A true Cornellian who made his alma mater & world better through his leadership & service, kind heart, & gentle soul.
Bob Majors was a true Gentleman and Stand Up Guy!
He was a faithful friend to my Father, Paul K. Scott.
God rest his Soul!!!!