Mr. Robert (Bob) Earl Terrell

Obituary

Robert (Bob) Earl Terrell, 74, passed away at his home September 22, 2018 after a courageous fight against pancreatic cancer.

Homegoing Service: 2:00 p.m. Wednesday, Shiloh Missionary Baptist Church, 2823 North Houston Fort Worth, Texas 76106.

Visitation: Noon-6:00 p.m. at the Gregory W. Spencer Funeral Home. The family will accept guests from 7:00 p.m.-8:30 p.m. at the funeral home.

Interment: Spring Hill Cemetery in Raymond, Mississippi.

Bob Terrell was born in Terry, Mississippi on October 4, 1943 to Rosie and Albert (Jack) Terrell. At a young age, he and his family moved to Jackson, MS where he completed his high school education at Jim Hill High School. He continued his education at Tougaloo Southern Christian College. After one year, he transferred to Kansas University graduating with a Bachelor of Science degree. Upon graduation, he taught elementary school in Kansas City, Kansas for five years. He resigned to become an Assistant Director at a community center, Turner House, and later became the Executive Director. In 1973, he returned to KU and earned a Master of Public Administration degree.

In 1974, he relocated to Fort Worth as a Budget Analyst for the City of Fort Worth. In 1977 to become executive director of a start-up non-profit agency, Fort Worth Economic Development Corporation, which provided management and technical assistance to small and minority-owned businesses.

Bob returned to the City of Fort Worth in 1979 as an Assistant to the City Manager. He was promoted to Assistant City Manager in 1985 and served in that capacity until 1992. He was appointed City Manager in 1992 and served in that capacity until he retired in 2000. He was the first African-American City Manager in Fort Worth and served longer than any previous City Manager since Council/Manager form of government was adopted in 1925. He began work for an engineering firm, CH2M HILL in 2002 and retired in 2016.

Bob was a fellow in the National Academy of Public Administration and he was a founding member of the North Texas Chapter of the National Forum for Black Public Administrators and has served as President. He served on several boards and committees both locally and nationally. He was a life member of the NAACP. He was a life member of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, serving in many capacities include Past President and Founding Member of Kappa Alpha Psi

Fraternity Foundation, providing college scholarships to African-American males in the Fort Worth community.

Anyone who knows Bob well knows that he loved his family, friends and fraternity. He was an avid sports fan and was often found in his recliner with multiple television sets broadcasting games and sports events throughout the house. He enjoyed listening to jazz, tending to his garden and grilling on the back porch.

He was preceded in death by his mother Rosie McNeil; his father Albert (Jack) Terrell; his two brothers Joe Terrell and John Terrell, both members of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity and his wife of 38 years, Karen Kay Terrell.

SURVIVORS – His loving daughter, Kelley Carson; his nephews, Steve Williams and Darius Terrell; his uncles, Ernest Kelly and J.D. Ratliff; very special cousins, Johnny L. Kelly (Diana), Mattie Martin, Charles Bracey (Helen), Calvin Bracey, Carolyn Bracey-White, Lois Jenkins (Jimmy) and Jackie Quinn (Greg), his brother-in-law, Ronald Griggs, Sr.; very special friend and fraternity brother, Kenneth Topp (Debbie); very special friends Patricia Brown and Vernell Sturns (Debra); and many other friends and relatives.