Bobby Eugene Gilliland

Dr. Bobby Eugene Gilliland, beloved husband, father, and grandfather, passed into everlasting life with his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ on January 1, 2020. He loved funny stories and anecdotes and thought people should enjoy life more fully.

Born on August 6, 1936 during the height of the Depression in a one-room house in Epps, Louisiana, Dr. Gilliland was the son of Otho C. and Vivian Smith Gilliland. He graduated from Rayville (Louisiana) high school in 1954 and from Louisiana Tech University in 1958 with a B.S. in chemical engineering. He was a member of Kappa Sigma fraternity.

He began work on a Master's Degree in chemical engineering at Tech but his education was interrupted by a Draft Board notice soliciting a need for his service, so he enlisted in the Army Reserves, achieving the rank of Private First Class. He was selected for an officers training program in 1959 at Brooke Army Medical Center, Fort Sam Houston, TX. At Brooke, he had 22 weeks of training: 16 basic officer training and 6 weeks of preventive medicine training. He had surgical training during officer's basic including learning to perform tracheotomys, thorancentesis, and wound debridement, among others.

Following his commissioning as a Second Lieutenant in the Army Medical Service Corps as an Environmental Engineer, Bob married Sara Frances Matkins, and the love of his life, on September 12, 1959. They had met on a blind date in August, 1958, and together they enjoyed over 60 years in a magnificent life partnership.

Bob served at the U.S. Army Environmental Hygiene Agency (USAEHA), a division of the Army Surgeon General's Office, located in Edgewood, Maryland. He was responsible for conducting environmental assessments at 63 different Army posts, arsenals and depots across the U.S. After active duty and while in graduate school at Arkansas, he served in the Army Reserves as detachment commander of a Mobile Army Surgical Hospital (MASH) and as executive officer for a 200-bed station hospital. This service led to appointment as a Mobilization Officer Designee environmental engineer at USAEHA, a position he held for several years, with a final rank of Captain.

From 1962 to 1967 he did graduate work at the University of Arkansas and received a Ph.D. in 1967. He won two distinguished awards, a graduate fellowship sponsored by the Brown Paper Company and an Instrument Society of America fellowship sponsored by the Hewlett-Packard Corporation.

Dr. Gilliland accepted an appointment at Clemson University as an Assistant Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering in 1967 and, over a 30-plus year career, achieved the rank of Professor and was, at various times, an Assistant Dean of Engineering, Associate Dean of Engineering and Special Assistant to the President of Clemson. He was a successful proposal writer, researcher, and author of over 60 scientific papers and articles. He was instrumental in establishing the Clemson Congressional Liaison Office and the Clemson Office of Technology Transfer that often ranked in the top-10 among U.S. universities in terms of patent/copyright royalty income.

He was actively involved with many national organizations. He participated in leadership roles on county and state committees and commissions, including the S.C. Nuclear Advisory Council, the Pickens County Aeronautics Commission, and the Pickens County Library Board of Trustees, chairing a number of them. Dr. Gilliland served as a subject matter expert for the National Council for Engineering Examiners for over 30 years.

He was a member of the First Baptist Church of Clemson, serving at various times as Sunday School teacher, Sunday School Treasurer, Chancel Choir member, and served as a Deacon at the Edgewood (Md.) Baptist Church.

He is survived by his beloved wife, Sara Matkins Gilliland of the home, endearing daughter, Clair Gilliland Campbell, Esquire and her husband Murphy Randolph Coble, Jr.; and enchanting grandchildren, Ian Carlyle Campbell and Anna Phelan Campbell, all of Charlotte, NC. He was predeceased by his parents, O.C. and Vivian Smith Gilliland, his sister, Sandra Gilliland Miller of Kerrville, TX and his brother Dr. Hugh Ronald Gilliland, of Oak Island, NC.

Dr. Gilliland was an accomplished crafter of Queen Anne furniture, and amateur gunsmith, private pilot, photographer and fly and bait-casting fisherman. Some of his largest fish include a 21-pound striped bass caught in Hartwell Lake (SC), a 10-pound largemouth bass caught in Lake Okechobee (FL) and a 5-pound brown trout in the Madison River (MT). He loved travel counting all but three states in his journeys and enjoyed over 30 foreign trips, mostly with his wife and many with his daughter and grandchildren.

He wishes for all his family, friends and acquaintances a fair and hearty farewell. May God's Grace always embrace you and the Peace of Christ soothe your heart and soul.

Services for Dr. Gillilland will be 3 PM Sunday at First Baptist Church, Clemson.

Visit RobinsonFuneralHomes.com or Duckett-Robinson Funeral Home & Cremations, Central-Clemson Commons.