Robert J. Ross
Robert J. (Bob) Ross is Chairman and CEO of Inasmuch Foundation. Founded in 1982 by Edith Kinney Gaylord, Inasmuch Foundation awards $25 million plus in grants each fiscal year to nonprofits supporting initiatives in community and civic engagement, education, human services, and journalism.[1][2]
Career & Education
Ross joined Inasmuch Foundation in 2003 as Vice President and Executive Director of Inasmuch Foundation and the Ethics & Excellence in Journalism Foundation. In 2005, Ross became President and CEO, and in 2014, the corporate entities merged and the Ethics and Excellence in Journalism Foundation became a wholly owned subsidiary of Inasmuch Foundation. In 2019, Ross was elected to Chairman and CEO.[1][3]
Thanks to Bob’s involvement in the expansion of Educare to Oklahoma City in 2009, he earned a reputation as an education advocate with the moniker “Mr. Education.”[4] Under Bob’s leadership, Inasmuch Foundation reached a major milestone in 2023 when the distribution of grant funding surpassed $350 million, the amount of founder Edith Kinney Gaylord’s original contribution.[3][5]
Prior to his time at Inasmuch Foundation, Ross was employed as an attorney with the Oklahoma City law firm McAfee & Taft. He is a graduate of Bishop McGuinness Catholic High School in Oklahoma City and Washington and Lee University in Virginia, where he received a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration. At W&L, he was a co-chairman of the 1996 Mock Convention, which correctly predicted that Bob Dole would receive the Republican presidential nomination. After attending W&L, he received his J.D. from the University of Oklahoma in 1999.[4]
Community Involvement
In 2000, Ross was an alternate delegate to the Republican National Convention, representing the Oklahoma Republican party on the floor of the national convention.[4]
Ross has also served in the following volunteer positions:
- Trustee, Will Rogers World Airport Trust, July 2022 - Present[6]
- Member, University of Oklahoma Board of Regents, May 2022 - Present[7]
- Board Member, Oklahoma Hall of Fame, January 2020 - Present
- LPAC Board Member, Acorn Growth Companies, January 2018 - Present[8]
- Board Member, Oklahoma State Fair, May 2015 - Present
- Board Member, Greater Oklahoma City Chamber, January 2008 - Present
- Board Member, OKC Museum of Art, January 2007 - Present[9]
- Board Member, Oklahoma City National Memorial & Museum, January 2007 - Present[10]
- Trustee, Colorado College, August 2007 - July 2024[11]
- Board Member, Oklahoma Public School Resource Center, January 2016 - February 2024
- Board Member, Oklahoma Board of Education, April 2015 - April 2019
- Trustee, University of Oklahoma Foundation, August 2009 - August 2018
- Board Member, Sunbeam Family Services, July 2006 - June 2017
- Board Member, Oklahoma City Educare, July 2006 - June 2017
- Board Member, Teach for America Oklahoma, May 2011 - May 2016
- Board Member, Smart Start Central Oklahoma, January 2006 - June 2014
- Board Member, Oklahoma City Public Schools Foundation, January 2004 - January 2009
Honors & Awards
Ross has received the following honors and awards for his service to Oklahoma City:
- 50 Most Powerful Oklahomans, Issued by OKC Friday, June 2024[12]
- Champion of Youth: Aubrey K. McClendon Lifetime Achievement Award, Issued by Boys & Girls Club of Oklahoma County, May 2023[13]
- E.C. Joullian Distinguished Citizen Award, Issued by Boy Scouts of America Last Frontier Council, March 2023[14]
- Community Engagement & Collaboration Award, Issued by Possibilities Inc, December 2022
- Outstanding Eagle Scout Award, Issued by Boy Scouts of America Last Frontier Council, December 2020[15]
- Aspire Award, Issued by Sunbeam Family Services, June 2020[16]
- OKCityan of the Year, Issued by OKC Friday, January 2019[17]
- Beyond Z Award, Issued by KIPP Public Charter Schools, August 2017[18]
- Door-Opener Award, Issued by ASTEC Charter Schools, September 2015[19]
- John Rex Community Builder Award, Issued by United Way of Central Oklahoma, January 2015[20]
- Visionary Impact Award, Issued by Oklahoma Center for Nonprofits, November 2013
- Mayor’s Award for Distinguished Service, Issued by OKC Beautiful, March 2012
- Urban Pioneer Award, Issued by Plaza District Association, June 2011[21]
- Regents Award, Issued by The University of Oklahoma, May 2009[22]
Personal life
Ross was born in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma on January 11, 1974, to William Jarboe and Mary Lillian Ross. He is married to Heather Nicole Ross and has a daughter, Lillian Margaret Ross, and a son, Francis Joseph Ross. He lives in Oklahoma City.[4]
Ross is an 89er. His great-grandfather George Ross made the Oklahoma Land Run on April 22, 1889, staking a plot of land on a corner of California Avenue in Oklahoma City, where he built a bakery.[23]
References
- ^ a b "Our History". Inasmuch Foundation. Retrieved August 31, 2024.
- ^ "Notching 4 decades of philanthropy, Inasmuch Foundation has much to celebrate". The Journal Record. August 18, 2023. Retrieved August 31, 2024.
- ^ a b Lackmeyer, Steve (May 3, 2009). "Inasmuch director finds satisfaction from service". The Oklahoman. Retrieved August 31, 2024.
- ^ a b c d Clark Gourley, Vicki. "Bob Ross 'OKCityan of the Year'". OKC Friday. Retrieved August 31, 2024.
- ^ Romero, Selena (September 1, 2023). "40 years of impact: Inasmuch Foundation's legacy in Oklahoma City". Velocity OKC. Retrieved August 31, 2024.
- ^ "Airport Trust - Bob Ross". Fly OKC. Retrieved August 31, 2023.
- ^ "Board of Regents - Mr. Ross". OU. Retrieved August 31, 2024.
- ^ "Our Team". Acorn Capital Management. Retrieved August 31, 2024.
- ^ "About". OKCMOA. Retrieved August 31, 2024.
- ^ "We Welcome Our Incoming Chairman, Bob Ross". Oklahoma City National Memorial and Museum. Retrieved August 31, 2024.
- ^ "Board of Trustees: Robert J. Ross". Colorado College. Retrieved August 31, 2024.
- ^ "Celebrate Oklahoma: Most Powerful Oklahomans". OKC Friday. June 28, 2024. Retrieved August 31, 2024.
- ^ "Inasmuch's Bob Ross Named Champion of Youth". OKC Friday. May 19, 2023. Retrieved August 31, 2024.
- ^ "Ross Family Honored with Distinguished Citizen Award". OKC Friday. March 31, 2023. Retrieved August 31, 2024.
- ^ "Scouts Recognize Top Adult Eagle Scouts". OKC Friday. December 25, 2020. Retrieved August 31, 2024.
- ^ "Sunbeam to Honor Bob Ross With Its 2020 Aspire Award". OKC Friday. February 7, 2020. Retrieved August 31, 2024.
- ^ Clark Gourley, Vicki. "Bob Ross 'OKCityan of the Year'". OKC Friday. Retrieved August 31, 2024.
- ^ "Inasmuch CEO receives '07 'Beyond Z' Award". The Oklahoman. August 12, 2007. Retrieved August 31, 2024.
- ^ "2015 ASTEC Door-Opener Awards Robert J. Ross". YouTube. Retrieved August 31, 2024.
- ^ "United Way of Central Oklahoma names honorees". The Oklahoman. January 13, 2015. Retrieved August 31, 2024.
- ^ Gilmore, Joan (June 7, 2011). "Around Town: Plaza Deistrict fetes Rosses". The Journal Record. Retrieved August 31, 2024.
- ^ "OU to Present Regents; Alumni Awards". The Journal Record. May 1, 2009. Retrieved August 31, 2024.
- ^ "Voices of Oklahoma: William Ross". Oklahoma Historical Society. Retrieved August 31, 2023.
External links
- Voices of Oklahoma interview with William Ross. First person interview conducted on January 20, 2012, with William Ross, father of Robert J. Ross.