Robert Thomas Barton III ’49

WE LOST a treasured classmate when Bob Barton's spirit gave out on Sept. 13, 1991.

Bob6'6" tall, lanky, stooped, bespectacled, ever friendlywas born Jan. 10, 1928, in Richmond, Va. He prepared for college at Woodberry Fore", and at Princeton he majored in psychology and was a member of Dial Lodge. Following Princeton he attended the Univ. of Virginia Law School, and served in the Air Force from 1950 to 1952.

Back in civilian life, Bob turned away from law to become an entrepreneur, and today is widely known among skiers as the father of skiing south of the Mason-Dixon line. Together with his wife, Anita Louise Love Barton, whom he married in 1959, Bob spent years and many dollars establishing the Weiss Knob ski area in Canaan Valley, south of Davis, W.Va., pumping new economic life into a dying Appalachia area. Funds depleted, they worked as Ski instructors at Blair Mountain, Penn. and Magic Mountain, Vt., etc., but always came back to Canaan Valley.

Bob Owned the Weiss Knob Ski Shop in Davis sponsored the Winter Carnival, persuaded world class ski instructors to come to the area, and, with Anita, added major motorcycle races to bring tourists during the summer. Their home county and West Virginia State have recognized their contributions, and annually present the Robert T. Barton III and Anita Love Barton Awards at the Governor's Cup ski races Bob, himself, being the first recipient of the former.

Bob's lovely wife, Anita, died of cancer in 1986, He is survived by two sisters, Edith B. Sheerin and Eleanor B. Brown. We extend our heartfelt sympathy to them at the loss of this most dedicated, caring, and gracious man.

The Class of 1949