Roger Westly McMULLIN

MCMULLIN, STROMBOM, BULLOCK, SWINFORD, AMMONS

Posted By: Sarah Thorson Little (email)
Date: 2/10/2024 at 13:06:47

Roger Westly McMullin
January 3, 1937 ---- March 14, 2022

Roger was born January 3, 1937 in Hanlontown, Iowa to Norvel and Ruth (Strombom) McMullin. He graduated from Hanlontown High School in 1954, Waldorf College in 1956, and the University of Iowa in 1958.

He married Mary Bullock in Grinnell on June 12, 1967 at the United Methodist Church in Grinnell, and they were blessed with two daughters. Mary died on October 13, 2013.

Roger was employed as a reporter/photographer by the Eagle Grove Eagle (1958-1959) and Grinnell Herald-Register (1960-1964), News Service Director at Grinnell College (1964-1984) and Sales Representative at the Pennysaver (1986-2002). An award-winning photographer, Roger photographed former presidents Harry S Truman and Dwight Eisenhower, future president Jimmy Carter, Dr. Martin Luther King, and many other notables. His photograph of jazz great Herbie Hancock appeared on the cover of Down Beat Magazine.

He loved fine wine, good food, cool jazz, and modern art. He always won at Trivial Pursuit and at the slot machines, and he told terrible puns. Roger’s quick wit, wise counsel, ad gentle soul will be greatly missed by his family.

Roger is survived by daughters, Sarah (James) Swinford of Carrollton, Texas and Rachel (Glenn Ammons) McMullin of West Chester, Pennsylvania; four grandchildren, Henry and Cora Swinford, and Esme and Graham Ammons. He was preceded in death by his parents, his wife, and his brother, Richard McMullin.

A private burial will take place at a later date.

Memorials may be designated to MICA (Mid-Iowa Community Action) in c/o of Smith Funeral Home, PO Box 368, Grinnell, Iowa 50112.