John Robert TABB

TABB, WILSON, HAYDEN

Posted By: Sarah Thorson Little (email)
Date: 9/5/2010 at 21:37:43

Virginian-Pilot, Norfolk, Virginia
September 1, 2002

September 2, 1924 -- August 29, 2002

NORFOLK, VA - John Robert Tabb, 77, died peacefully at his home in the Larchmont area of Norfolk on Thursday, Aug. 29, 2002. Born in Corwith, Iowa on Sept. 2, 1924, he was the son of the late James Robert Tabb and Laura May Wilson Tabb. He is survived by his devoted wife of 55 years, Waulda (Buzz) Tabb; three sons and a daughter, Jon Robert Tabb of Hopewell, Va., James Robert Tabb of Chesapeake, Jeffrey Mark Tabb of Norfolk, and Tara Jo Tabb Hayden of Norfolk; 10 grandchildren; five great-grandchildren; a sister, Jean Miriam Wilson of Ridgecrest, Calif.; and 29 nephews and nieces.

After graduating from Corwith High School in Iowa in 1942, he was briefly at Iowa State University before standing up for his country's freedom by joining the Army in 1943. He saw combat action in Europe during the Battle of the Bulge in Company I, 395th Infantry, 99th Division and was awarded the Bronze Star, Purple Heart and Combat Infantryman's Badge. Suffering shrapnel wounds in March 1945 to both arms, face and right foot, he was hospitalized for the next two and a half years at Fitzimmons Army Hospital in Denver, Colo. It was there that he met his wife and they were married shortly after his discharge on Sept. 2, 1947. He returned to Iowa State University, earning his BA and MA in 1950 and 1951. Starting a lifelong avocation, he began his teaching career at South Dakota State College in Brookings. After two years, he left to attend Cornell University where he earned his Ph.D. in Economics in 1955. In 1955, he took a position as an associate professor of economics at the Norfolk Division of the College of William and Mary, an institution that he helped evolve into the current Old Dominion University. He was appointed chairman of the economics department in 1956, received tenure as a full professor in 1957, and was named the first Dean of the School of Business in 1958. From 1966 to 1974, he served as the University's Director of Institutional Studies, Planning and Development during a critical growth period when the institution was changing from a regional college to its current university status. During this time, he was also active in state and regional efforts serving on the state milk commission and performing economic impact studies for many now familiar area changes such as the Ghent redevelopment and the Lynnhaven condominiums projects.

In 1974, he returned to his lifelong passion, teaching economics. Apropos of a changing world, for the next 19 years he focused on international economics and economic development. Several international assignments helped him to bring perspective to thousands of his ODU students and hundreds of foreign students and business leaders. These sabbaticals included a U.S. Agency for International Development study in Liberia, a U.N. Economic Development Commission in Saipan, a Fulbright Scholarship to the East South African Management Institute (ESAMI) where he provided economic guidance to business leaders of the five East African nations, a U.N. study in Bangladesh and full year teaching appointments at universities in Swansea, Wales, Shanghai, China and Lyon, France. In 1993, although he continued to speak on request about his international experiences to a variety of audiences from elementary schools to the familiar university classroom, he retired to enjoy the company of his wife, family and grandchildren. At his retirement he was named professor emeritus and dean emeritus. He was a very caring, family centered person and will be missed by all who loved him.

A gathering of friends will be held at ODU's Webb Center in the Hampton/Newport News Room on Monday from 3 to 5 p.m. Interment will be in his hometown of Corwith, Iowa with military honors provided by the Elmer Wilson American Legion Post. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the John R. Tabb Scholarship Fund in Economics, c/o of Dr. Agarwal, Economics Department, Constant Hall 2044, Old Dominion University, Norfolk, VA 23529.