St. Clair County Obits

ROBERT NEILL TOMPKINS

Clinton Daily Democrat
Robert N. Tompkins, 55, Warrensburg, died July 11, 1996, at Shawnee Mission Hospital, Shawnee Mission, Ks. He was battling brain cancer. The family received friends on July 13 at the Central Missouri State University Alumni Chapel, Warrensburg.
Funeral services were held on July 14, at the Sheldon-Goodrich Chapel, Osceola. Pallbearers were Lynn Solomon, Jim Hudson, Ronald Vandam, Floyd Walker, Roger Denker and Jim Conn. Honorary pallbearers were Mike Carter, Jim Pilkington, David Defrain, Curt Reams, Dean Vogelaar, Rusty Newman and Gary Walsner. The funeral service was conducted by Ronald Vandam with eulogies given by Jim Crane, Lynn Solomon, Jim Hudson and Elois Pelton. Burial was at the Valley Center Cemetery, Deepwater.
Mr. Tompkins was born on October 7, 1941, in St. Clair County, the son of Howard and Esther Tompkins. Mr. Tompkins graduated from Lowry City High School. He graduated from Central Missouri State College in 1962 with a bachelor of education degree and his master of education degree in 1963; and his doctorate of education degree in 1968 from the University of Utah.
At Central Missouri State University he taught physical education for 33 years and coached Mules baseball at CMSU for 15 years from 1965 through 1980 compiling a 248-164-1 record (.602 winning percentage). The 248 wins and 15 seasons as head coach are the most wins for any Mules' baseball coach. Under Tompkins, the Mules baseball teams won MIAA titles in 1966, 1971 and 1874 and earned NCAA tournament berths in 1971 and 1974. The 1974 squad finished fourth in the nation. In 1974, Tompkins was named the MIAA Coach of the Year. Tompkins and the 1974 baseball team have been inducted into the Athletic Hall of Fame at CMSU. Tompkins played baseball for the Mules and was an All-American pitcher and a three-year letterman. He received the Outstanding Senior Male Athlete Award in 1962. He coached the Mules' and Jennies' tennis teams from 1985-87.
Dr. Tompkins was a professor in the CMSU Department of Physical Education for 33 years. He sponsored the Physical Education Majors club for 20 years. His memberships were in the American Alliance of Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance, member of the Missouri Association of Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance where he was currently serving as president. Honors received from MAHPERD include the Robert Taylor Outstanding Service Award and the Presidential Awards for Service. He was a member of the Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society in Education.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Howard and Esther Tompkins, and a sister, Rebecca Tompkins. He is survived by his two daughters, Kyla Jean Creollo of Joplin and Kristie Lynne Sterrett, Lee's Summit; two granddaughters, Kacie Lynne and Kalley, Marie Creollo of Joplin.