Robert Gene Drennan was born in Oklahoma City, OK, and later was adopted as a teenager by Dr. Clyde L. and Wynona Drennan of Polo, IL. Bob joined the Class of ’60 in July 1956, and graduated on 8 Jun I960. Seventeen days later, on 25 June, Bob married Sheryl Clayton in Polo. In time, they had two children Richard and Shannon.

Bob selected a commission in the Air Force and was trained in the rapidly growing and important field of intercontinental ballistic missiles. His active duty years included missile officer responsibilities at an Atlas Missile installation near Spokane, WA. After completing his military obligation, Bob left the Air Force and entered the business world, where his background served him well. He spent more than 20 years with the Twin-Disc Corporation, advancing to director of Brazilian operations during 1978-83. Bob retired from Twin- Disc in favor of pursuing other interests.

Following a divorce, Bob took a hiatus and visited a number of friends and classmates around the country. He then chose Dallas, TX, as the location to open his own business, which he named "Poor Richard’s Wood Works." Bob worked in Dallas for a number of years, staying in close touch with classmates in the area until illness overtook him. Bob, our friend, died of cancer at the Dallas Veterans’ Administration Hospital. He was 62 years old.

Bob is survived by his son Richard Clyde Drennan; daughter Shannon Drennan Ruder; five grandchildren: Alyssa Wynona Drennan, Matheus Goulart Drennan, John Robert Ruder, Claire Leah Ruder, and Claudia Carmen Ruder; and two half-sisters: Hazel Enlow and Catherine Johnson.

These are the basic facts about the life of Robert Gene Drennan, but there are other facts to relate. Bob was a private person about some things, so few people knew that "Bob Drennan" was not his real name. He was actually born Bobby Bates as an out-of wedlock child with a troublesome childhood. A half-sister raised him until his natural father returned to take responsibility for him. Bob grew to love his father, but he died when Bob was just 13. At that vulnerable age, Bob lived above a YMCA, ran around with a gang of juveniles, grew up fast, and learned, in his daughter Shannon’s words, "to play a mean game of pool." Local authorities finally apprehended Bob, living without a guardian, and located an aunt in Polo. He was sent to her, but she proved to be too elderly and frail to adequately guide Bob. Again, he was left to his own devices. At that point, Bob’s luck began to change for the better.

He was attending high school, playing football well, handling the academics and drawing the respectful attention of the school principal. Shannon writes, "There is a local doctor, Doc Drennan, whom the principal knows has been trying to adopt a child for quite a while. He is an avid football fan. The principal invited him to a football game. He sells Doc Drennan on dad. Doctor Drennan invites dad over and makes dad an offer: ‘I will give you a roof over your head, and in exchange you will follow my rules.’ Dad thought it was a pretty good deal and moved his stuff in that day."

Doc Drennan’s wife Wynona helped prepare Bob for his entrance exams for West Point, even though she was not enthusiastic about the military. Dick Nelson, Bob’s roommate during New Cadet Barracks (Beast Barracks), provides insight into Bob’s temperament. "We came from small towns in Illinois, about 50 miles apart, so we shared a cultural background." he said. "The Midwestern perspective, exemplified by Bob, seems easygoing and low-key compared to his classmates, especially those from the East Coast. That can be attributed to the fact that Midwesterners are only one generation removed from the farm—an environment that involves working around big animals; you don’t want to scare a large animal with any loud noises, talk, and sudden gestures, so you develop a pretty calm, relaxed way of speaking and acting."

Bob’s adaptive skills allowed him to adjust easily to the rigors of Plebe year and West Point in general, and he greatly enjoyed many aspects of cadet life. His Plebe year roommate Jim DeMent recalls: "We were studying French by the ‘total immersion’ method, and Bob loved studying French. We chatted and joked in French, had a lot of laughs, and actually learned the language, too. He also enjoyed being a photographer for Pointer magazine, and was in his element when he became a mule rider for the Army football mascots." Classmate Mac McNamara recalls, "I have many fond, warm memories that still burn bright about Bob. Bob was a close friend of Mike Field, and both were avid horsemen who rode our Army mules. I have memories of train rides to Pittsburgh and Illinois for football games. I came up from the cadet Pullman cars and made my way up to visit them; and there were Bob Drennan and Mike Field in the mule train car, shining brass and preparing for the entrance of the mighty Army team. They rode all the way with the mules in a car full of hay and straw. Hannibal, the big mule, Mike rode and "Bulldog" [Bob’s nickname] got the little one. I used to laugh because Bulldog’s feet looked like they were dragging when he was mounted. Size-wise, he should have been riding Hannibal! Bob was a stabilizing, mature guy."

Years ago, when Bob and Sheryl were married in Polo, several classmates happily attended. A wonderful picture portrays classmates toasting the newlyweds with glasses raised: the bride and groom are in the center of the photo, Sheryl looking lovely and Bob wearing a huge grin; they were flanked on each side by two classmates and shining gold bars. Three of the five classmates in that photo are now gone, including his mule riding buddy Mike Field. He died in Viet Nam. The two remaining classmates in the photo participated in the preparation of this memorial article. One of them, Steve Scott, has created "The Bulldog Drennan Memorial Workshop" with Bob’s workshop equipment. We roomed and went to class with him, enjoyed his sense of humor, and loved and respected him—we knew Bob better than most. Above all else, we admired the tenacity with which he overcame all obstacles. That "will-do" attitude is perfectly consistent with the traits taught by his alma mater.

Rest in peace, Bob. We miss you and we take comfort that you are in that "ghostly assemblage" of members of the Long Gray Line.

Family and classmates