Robert "Bob" Pinder Honored with Naming of TTU Student Ministry Building

Former Human Development and Family Studies (HDFS) professor, Robert "Bob" Pinder, Ph.D., recently celebrated both his 90th birthday and the news of a student ministry building located just off the Texas Tech University campus to be named in his honor.

With many years as an HDFS professor, Dr. Pinder's impact is still remembered long after his retirement. Dr. Pinder taught HDFS courses in the College of Human Sciences from 1971 to 1994 where he received tenure and was on the graduate school faculty. Dr. Pinder taught the first course in Family Therapy, which has grown one of today's leading academic fields.

Dr. Pinder was known for his enthusiasm for recruiting students to Human Development and Family Studies and Texas Tech University.

"When I met anyone with any interest in Texas Tech, I got their email address," Dr. Pinder said.

Current HDFS Professor Jean Scott, Ph.D., remembers her former colleague as a very congenial and pleasant individual. She recalls that Dr. Pinder was well known in the department for several popular undergraduate courses that he taught, particularly the courtship and marriage course.

"I remember meeting people who were Tech graduates and when I would tell them that I was a faculty member in HDFS, they would often name the courtship and marriage course as one they really enjoyed and found useful. Dr. Pinder really cared for the students who took his courses."

HDFS alumnus, Jeff Kennon, reflects on his time as a Red Raider with many courses taught by Dr. Pinder.

"I'm pretty sure I took every class he taught. His classes were always favorites of mine, and it wasn't because I got A's in all of them. Dr. Pinder actually cared about his students. For him, teaching was bigger than just delivering content, it was about investing in others."

Since leaving Texas Tech, Dr. Pinder continued to lead a life filled with teaching alongside his late wife of 60 years, Jane. Bob later met his now wife, Joyce, and married her in 2012. The couple now resides in a retirement home together where he says they are doing great.

Dr. Pinder is working on his life story, to be published soon with many memories of his Texas Tech days and lifetime of teaching and ministry. As a longtime friend of the Texas Tech Baptist Student Ministry, Dr. Pinder was awarded the Texas Baptist Adventurer in Missions Award last year. Today, the organization is honoring him with the new building namesake.

"What a great honor. I am humbled."