Bob Maurice Prillaman

ended. His family is comforted in knowing this larger-than-life man, whether known as

Bob, Bobby, Dad, Papa, or even Chairman of the Board, entered heaven on Easter

Sunday. The story of his amazing life and accomplishments could, and perhaps should,

be recorded in a multiple volume biography and never be contained in a simple

obituary.

Bob was born in 1933 in Bassett VA . He and his sister Reba were the children of

a railroad laborer and a schoolteacher. Bob loved telling stories of his childhood growing

up in the small house next to the railroad tracks by the Smith River. He never realized

how poor they were despite the use of an outhouse and a well. In 1950 Bob graduated

from Basset High School. He then attended Lincoln Memorial College in Tennessee,

where he met his wife of 69 years, Lil. He finished his education at GA State University.

He was drafted into the army and he dutifully served his country in Germany as an MP.

Bob retired from Caraustar Industries as Sr. Vice President and member of the

Directors Caraustar Industries in 1998, after 30 years of service. He became a national

leader in recycling and was Chairman of the Recycling Division of the American Paper

Association. In the recycling field, he was President of Doraville Paper Recycling,

Macon Recycling and Columbus Recycling. He led Caraustar Industries into the sheet

rock business and became Chairman of the Board of Sweetwater Paper Mill in Austell,

and Chairman of the Board of Camden Paperboard Mill, in Camden, NJ. He served on

the Board of Directors for the Chicago Paperboard Mill, the Standard Gypsum in

McQuiney, TX and the Austell Box Board.

Bob’s service to his community was vast and varied. He was a founding member of

Independent Bank and Trust, which later merged into United Community Bank where he

served on the advisory board. For over 20 years he was a Trustee of the Cobb

Chamber of Commerce and became Chair of the Cobb Chamber in 1997. He became a

long time member of the Chairman’s club and was the Director of the Chairman’s Club

for four years and was honored by the Chamber as a Lifetime Member. He was also

awarded the Len Gilbert Award, the Chairman’s Leadership Award and the Mack

Henderson Award. He was honored with the Cobb County Citizen of the year in 2000

and the Liberty Bell Award by the Cobb Bar Association in 2011.

In 1983 Bob became a trustee at Kennesaw State University and found a passion in

helping students. In 2004 He received an honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters by

Kennesaw State University and the Georgia Board of Regents. The awards he received

from KSU include Clarice C. Bagwell Distinguished Service Award, Honorary Alumnus

Award, Horace W. Sturgis award, Edwin Zaban Award and the Golden Key

International Honor Society Award. In 2010, Prillaman Hall was named for Bob and Lil

to honor his efforts to combine Wellstar Health System and KSU in the training of

nurses.

Bob served for over 45 years in what is now Wellstar Health System, eventually

becoming Chairman of the Board. He served on Wellstar Kennestone Authority for

twelve years and served as Chair for a two year term. His commitment to healthcare

includes his service on the Promina Health System Board of Trustees, the Georgia Lt.

Governor’s Healthcare Advisory Board, and a Trustee for Northwest Physicians Group.

In the healthcare related fields, his honors include Chairman of the the South Cobb

Cancer Society, Honorary Chairman of the Cancer Society Ball, The Heart of Cobb

Award by the American Heart Association and the Wellstar Visionary Leadership Award.

In 2000, Wellstar honored Bob with an award for outstanding service.

His love of service also extended to Girls, Inc., South Cobb Rotary, Tommy Nobis

Center, Theater on the Square and Georgia Ballet. He chaired the Cobb County

Pension Fund, was a member of the Cobb Clean Commission, and a member of the

Governor’s Round Table. In 2012 he was honored by Cobb Community Foundation as

Philanthropist of the Year. He was a longtime member of the Marietta First United

Methodist Church.

Despite all of these achievements and honors, he never moved away from the small

town simple lessons of Bassett - even as he chaired meetings of million dollar

companies. He believed in hard work, humility, and speaking plainly. Upon receiving

every honor, he always credited Lil for making it all possible. They were truly a loving

team and they were each other’s greatest cheerleader. He was immensely proud of his

three children, four grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.

Bob’s generosity will never be fully known this side of Heaven. The boy who grew

up by the railroad tracks found his greatest joy in giving. He loved to give - his money,

his time and his influence. It was, quite simply, his greatest joy.

No obituary could ever fully tell the story of Bob Prillaman. He personified a life

well lived. We will miss his wildly entertaining stories and his larger than life personality.

Bob, you have run the race and you have your reward. Heaven is sweeter, richer and

certainly much louder upon your arrival. See you soon.

Bob is preceded in death by his parents, Owen H. and Mildred Prillaman and sister

Reba Wyatt. He is survived by his devoted wife of 69 years Lillias Prillaman, son Owen

Prillaman (Melanie), daughters Cathy Brooks (Rick) and Mary Prillaman Holland,

grandchildren Elizabeth Hewett (Chris), Rebecca Prillaman, Hilary Butler (Michael),

Mary Kayla Oliver (Josh) and great-grandchildren Essie and Lilly Joy Hewett.

The visitation will be at Mayes Ward Dobbins Thursday April 13 th from 5 to 7 pm. The

Memorial and Celebration of Life Service will be held Friday April 14 th from 11 to 12 pm

at Marietta First United Methodist Church.

In lieu of flowers donations may be made to Wellstar Tranquility Hospice at Kennesaw

Mountain or Kennesaw State University Foundation.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.kennesawmemorialpark.com for the Prillaman family.