Former Bears AD Bobby Pope Passes Away

MACON, Ga. – Bobby Pope, a Mercer University athletic administrator from 1980 to 2010, died on Sunday afternoon, Sept. 6, at the age of 75.

"Over the more than three decades that Bobby Pope was associated with Mercer Athletics he touched the lives of hundreds of student-athletes, coaches and fans and was synonymous with the Mercer Bears," said Mercer President William D. Underwood. "Our thoughts and prayers are with Carol, Andy, Krissy and other members of the Pope family."

During his tenure at Mercer, he began broadcasting basketball games and became the Sports Information Director in 1980. Nine years later, Pope transitioned into the Director of Athletes role where he served for 21 years. He saw the growth of the department to 14 sports, as well as the addition of the first full-time coaches for men's and women's golf, men's and women's tennis and cross country.

"Bobby Pope was a true prince of a man," said Mercer Director of Athletics Jim Cole. "He loved Mercer and all its students and student-athletes. He gave me a chance to compete back in the early 90's. I will forever be grateful. He will be truly missed by all the Mercer family."

Facility upgrades were a priority when Pope became athletics director, as evidenced by the state-of-the-art University Center, home to men's and women's basketball and volleyball. The building at the time housed all coaches' offices as well as locker rooms for all teams. Claude Smith Field, the home field for baseball, received a facelift in the fall of 2003, while Sikes Field, the home of softball, was completed shortly thereafter.

Pope was highly respected by his peers. He served two years as president at the Atlantic Sun Conference and was a member of numerous committees, including eight years on the Executive Committee. He served on five NCAA Peer Review Committees. He also served as the conference president for two years in the late 1990's.

Pope was inducted into the Mercer Athletics Hall of Fame in 2010, the Macon Sports Hall of Fame in 2006, the Georgia Radio Hall of Fame in 2016 and the Georgia Sports Hall of Fame in February of 2020.

For nearly two decades, he was a sports reporter, director and sports anchor at WMAZ-TV. Pope called high school football and basketball games from the mid-60's through 1972 on WMAC-AM radio and began his involvement with Mercer athletics in 1970 when he was the "Voice of the Bears." He served as Mercer's sports information director from 1980-1992.

Sybil Blalock, Mercer deputy athletic director and senior woman administrator, said "Bobby had an amazing reserve of love, compassion and generosity. He ran a great race full of life and encouragement for those around him. Bobby shared so much, including his sense of good humor, and we learned so much from him along his journey. I am eternally grateful for his friendship, and my heart goes out to his family. We've lost a tremendous person who had an incredible impact on so many people."

He was also engaged in the community, served as treasurer of the Macon Touchdown Club as well as serving on the Mayor's Recreation Master Plan Committee and the Georgia Sports Hall of Fame Authority.

A native of Thomaston, Ga., Pope graduated from Georgia College and State University. He and his wife Carol have two children: Andy, a 1998 graduate of the University of Georgia, and Krissy, a 2001 Mercer graduate.

Mercer University Athletics

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