Bob Swansbrough, described as a pillar of the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga and the community, will be greatly missed, colleagues and friends said.
Swansbrough, 72, longtime professor of political science and administrator at UTC, died Tuesday.
“It’s a terrible loss for the department and the university,” said David Carrithers, Adolph Ochs professor of government at UTC. “It’s going to be very difficult to fill his shoes.”
UTC didn’t release the cause of death, but colleagues confirmed Swansbrough had been unconscious since suffering a heart attack on Jan. 22.
Swansbrough, a frequent political analyst for local media, joined the UTC faculty in 1971 and held several positions, including most recently as associate dean of the College of Arts and Sciences.
His teaching areas included American government, world politics, international relations, American foreign policy, political leadership and presidential personality.
“Bob occupied a huge place around here, both in the university and the community,” said Fouad Moughrabi, head of the political science department at UTC and Swansbrough’s friend and colleague of 40 years. “He made a very important contribution to the life of the university as a teacher, as a scholar.”
Among other roles, he helped Democrat Marilyn Lloyd get elected to Congress in 1974 and was her administrative assistant from 1975-77.
“Dr. Swansbrough’s involvement in politics predates me even and it will be very hard to imagine another political season without his being involved, on top of his other academic achievements,” said Jeff Brown, chairman of the Hamilton County Democratic Party.
Arrangements are incomplete but will be announced by the North Chapel of Chattanooga Funeral Home, Crematory & Florist in Hixson.
ABOUT BOB SWANSBROUGH
* Served in the U.S. Navy as a division officer from 1961 to 1965.
* In 1974, served as 3rd District campaign coordinator for Marilyn Lloyd and then as her administrative assistant in the U.S. House from 1975-77.
* Delegate to the 1972 Hamilton County and 3rd District Democratic conventions.
* Joined the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga faculty in 1971.
* Headed the Department of Political Science at UTC from 1981-1991.
* Served as the associate dean of the College of Arts and Sciences since 1992 and as assistant dean from 1990-92.
* Named in 2006 to head a UTC faculty committee considering re-establishing ROTC and creating a Department of Military Science on campus.
* Published “Test by Fire: The War Presidency of George W. Bush,” in 2008.
* Selected as a 2009-2010 Fulbright Scholar to China
Source: University of Tennessee at Chattanooga