Robert Blair Kline courageously fought Polio and Post Polio Syndrome for 65 years. He died Jan. 7, 2015, at New Hanover Regional Medical Center at the age of 85.
Known as “Bob” to family and friends and “Bobop” to his grandchildren, he was born on March 15, 1929, in St. Joseph, Missouri, son of the late Eugene and Dora Kline. He graduated in 1946 from Benton High School in St. Joseph, Missouri, where he was a basketball, track and field and football all-city athlete, class president and president of student council all four years.
In 1951 he graduated from the University of Kansas. He played varsity football and track for KU, highlighted by playing for the Jayhawks in the 1948 Orange Bowl. He majored in accounting was member of Phi Gamma Delta fraternity. Bob was a lifetime supporter of KU and his fraternity.
Upon graduating KU, Bob was employed by the Arthur Young Accounting Firm and soon after was recruited by the Owens Corning Fiberglas Corp in Kansas City, Missouri. He quickly became an integral member of OCF and was promoted to vice president of contracting. While at Owens Corning Bob was instrumental in worldwide construction projects including the Alaska pipeline, Glen Canyon Hydroelectric Dam, the multiple award-winning Hajj Terminal at King Abdul Aziz International Airport in Saudi Arabia, the former Detroit Lions Pontiac Silverdome, the Riyadh Airport in Saudi Arabia and the Seattle Space Needle.
In the mid 1980s, Bob completed a leverage buyout of the Owens Corning Contracting Division and founded Performance Contracting Group. He remained president of PCG until his retirement in 1990. Performance Contracting Group is the nation’s largest private industrial contractor.
Active in the Wilmington community, Bob was a former vice president of Landfall where he founded the Architectural Review Board. He volunteered as the construction supervisor of the Cameron Art Museum and served as former treasurer on the Cameron Art Museum Board of Trustees. He was also a loyal supporter of local public radio station WHQR.
Bob had a passion for antique classic cars and was a member of the Cape Fear Chapter of the Antique Automobile Club of America (AACA). He enjoyed the friendship of his fellow collectors and enthusiasts. He was also a member of the Country Club of Landfall and The Surf Club.
Bob is survived by his loving wife of 59 years, Rosemary Owen Kline; daughter, Lisa Hicks, husband, Chip Hicks and children, Charlie Hicks, of Los Angeles, Libby Hicks, Tom Hicks and Drew Hicks, of Wilmington; son, Rob Kline and partner, Dr. Brad Williams, of Charleston, South Carolina; daughter, Holly Renton, husband, Andrew Renton and children, Angus and Lachlan Renton, of Wilmington; and a brother, Reed Kline and wife, Glenda, of St. Joseph, Missouri.
A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. on Sunday, Jan. 11, 2015, at the Frank H. Kenan Memorial Chapel, 510 Arboretum Drive, Wilmington, NC, 28405 with Chaplain Anne Gordon officiating.
In lieu of flowers please consider a contribution to Cameron Art Museum or the Wounded Warrior Project.
Please leave online condolences for the family at Andrews Mortuary.
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