Special thanks to Don Powell and the Powell Family for all their amazing help and support during this difficult time.
Photos, Stories & Tributes: Please feel free to contribute photos and stories of Bobby! He has touched so many people over the course of his life! You can upload photos in the "Photo Gallery" and add stories on the "Stories" page. You can also add a shorter tribute using the box below.
Flowers: In lieu of flowers, the family asks that friends make a donation in Bobby’s name to Make-A-Wish North Texas. Donations can be mailed to Make-A-Wish, 6655 Deseo, Irving, Texas 75039.
Tributes
Leave a tributeIn several meetings over the last few weeks, his wisdom has surfaced as though it were etched in granite — indelible and infallible.
“Make people love you,” a colleague said, recalling Bobby’s advice.
It was spoken both as a professional admonition for winning new work and building relationships among project teams, but also as a sort of charm to beguile the most obstinate of people, always wielded with an earnest desire to win people over.
Bobby did make people love him, and we are all better for it.
He and my dad used to call each other “co-petitors” rather than “competitors” — as long as one of the two of our firms secured a commission, it didn’t matter which one. They were always happy to see each other succeed.
Next week, we celebrate my dad’s elevation to Fellowship in the American Institute of Architects. Bobby certainly would have been a Fellow himself by now. Bobby’s leadership of HKS’ global growth had an immeasurable impact on the firm and the psyche of its staff — not to mention the profile of U.S.-based design practices with international reach.
Bobby was a pioneer in every sense of the word. His outsized legacy continues to inspire.
I turned 31 yesterday, and I celebrated five years with our architectural firm earlier this year. Though no one could ever compare with Bobby personally or professionally, I find my role for BOKA Powell evolving into the types of activities that Bobby championed for HKS. Though we talked a few times about the business, Bobby would have been an incredible mentor for me at this stage in my career. He had an uncanny ability to charm absolutely anyone, from international real estate developers to the crowned heads of the Middle East. An unbelievable talent, and an unbridled spirit. Miss you, Bobby.
"I love you Bobby. Happy Birthday!! Thank you for being mine."
When I asked how to check in on old contacts, Bobby replied,"The same way you would call a friend you have not seen in a while. Ryan, It's a natural thing if you truly care about the person." Bobby was a great mentor on several levels and taugh me some great lessons.
And here's to 7-11 coffee!
Love you Bobby.
Bobby was a great friend and example of how to enjoy life. The memories we shared together when the children were small are treasures in my heart. Luke, Elayne, Sara and Lauren loved to participate in adventures that Bobby would create. When we were all together, laughter filled the air. He will be missed by our family.
"And this is the testimony, that God gave us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life."
I pray you know how much that meant to me and realize how many loved you and your spirit.
You left a mark in my life I will carry forever.
I will miss you, Bobby...see you heaven.
It was a gift to be counted among his friends. We are all blessed to have known Bobby. My condolences to his family, the treasures of his life.
1. How to plan fun family vacations. He addressed every detail & always with style! 2. The importance of regular touch-up painting. 3. Most importantly, the definition of generosity. When the bottom fell out of my world, he made it possible for me & my girls to buy our home. His legacy lives on in Stuart & Peyton. He will be missed.
Don’t stand at my grave & weep
I’m not there; I don’t sleep.
I’m a 1000 winds that blow
I’m the diamond glints on snow
I’m the sunlight on ripened grain
I’m the gentle autumn rain.
When you awaken in the morning’s hush
I’m the swift uplifting rush
Of quiet birds in circled flight.
I’m the soft stars that shine at night.
Don’t stand at my grave & cry
I’m not there; I didn’t die.
May God wrap HIS arms around your family now.
Leave a Tribute
In several meetings over the last few weeks, his wisdom has surfaced as though it were etched in granite — indelible and infallible.
“Make people love you,” a colleague said, recalling Bobby’s advice.
It was spoken both as a professional admonition for winning new work and building relationships among project teams, but also as a sort of charm to beguile the most obstinate of people, always wielded with an earnest desire to win people over.
Bobby did make people love him, and we are all better for it.
Meeting Bobby
I was doing the Sun Circuit Show in Scottsdale, and it was on Sunday evening just as we were about to close for the day. So this guy walks up to the booth looking like he just stepped off of a sailboat (sorta out of uniform at an Arizona horse show if you get my drift) and starts talking to me like we had been friends since kindergarden. As we're talking about anything and everything, he asks about a bracelet we had in the showcase. I show him the bracelet, give him the details, he looks it over and hands it back. We go back to talking like we've been buds for years. "Hey, do you want a beer or something?" I think we must have BSed for at least 30 - 45 minutes, just bein Buds. I liked him form the get-go! Just be fore he left he said "I'll take that bracelet." He bought it for Terrie and she came by and showed it off later.
Bobby had the ability to meet someone and instantly put them at ease. Not many folks can do that, and I'm proud I knew him for the short time we were life-long Buds.
Ecuadorian Watermelon
In college Bobby was chosen to be part of a team thesis project that spent a semester in Ecuador our fourth year of school. Since we were newly married, I went with all of the guys for that semester, where we lived in Quito. Sometimes food was a bit hard to come by, or at least food that I would eat, not wanting to get sick as one of the team members did. We lived a couple of miles from the grocery/market and our typical mode of transportation was our own feet. One day Bobby came in to the apartment we shared with 5-6 of the guys, and he had a big watermelon in his arms. I love watermelon and he had seen this melon, bought it for me knowing that I had been pretty hungry and then carried it for MILES to bring it to me. It was a heavy watermelon, too! It was such an act of service and love. Bobby was a people-pleaser and many times I saw him carry heavy "weights" wanting so much to make someone else happy. Part of it was how desperately he himself wanted to be loved, but part was just a real servant heart that was willing to do and to give. Unfortunately, the watermelon in Ecuador tasted AWFUL and wasn't edible, but I never forgot his gesture or the love that propelled it. And, I was just one of so many who received "watermelons" from the heart of Bobby Booth.