Heart of the University

BG central to Stanton’s story and life

By Bob Cunningham

The Bowling Green State University seal is at the heart of campus, and its location will always have a special place in the hearts of Bob ’72 and Mary Stanton as this is where Bob proposed to Mary in 2014. Now, just steps away from the seal, the couple has another meaningful campus spot with the newly named Robert J. and Mary L. A. Stanton Audio Recording Studio in the Kuhlin Center.
 
The couple met at a country and western dance hall in their hometown of Frisco, Texas, about 25 miles north of Dallas. Mary was there with friends, testing her knee about a month after having total knee replacement surgery and rehab, while Bob was visiting the dance hall for the first time.
 
“We just ran into each other and started talking,” said Bob, a member of the BGSU Alumni Association Board of Directors. “Actually, we never got around to dancing. We did a lot of talking. We got together the next day and we’ve been together pretty much every day since.”
 
Bob and Mary shared a love of travelling and one of their many trips was when they came to BGSU to attend the 2014 Academy of Distinguished Alumni ceremony.
 
“He was so cute,” Mary said. “We got out of the car and he’s nervous, even trembling. I’m wondering what’s the matter with him. He’s saying, ‘I just don’t want to be too early. I just don’t want to be the first one here. I’m in a tux, maybe I’m going to be the only one in a tux. Let’s go for a walk.’
 
“We go for a walk and he stops and says, ‘You know what this about,’ and I look at him and I’m thinking, ‘Huh?’ He said, ‘I just wanted you to know I love you so much and I want to marry you. Do I have to get on my knee? It’s raining.’ We laughed and I said you don’t have to do that. Then, he proposed.”
 
Bob stopped to ask Mary’s hand in marriage at the heart of the University, right in front of the school seal. The Stantons married on May 22, 2015 in Seattle, but their “wedding trip” started long before that. Between Texas and Washington, Bob and Mary visited 14 national parks.
 
“Mary and I love taking road trips,” said Bob. “We’ve been to most of the 50 states already in the few years we’ve known each other.”
 
Bob’s love of travel also fits in with his volunteer work for BGSU. Except for winter months, Bob either drives his car or rides his motorcycle from Texas to attend board meetings in Bowling Green.
 
“Bowling Green has always been a very special place for me,” he said. “When I retired a number of years ago, I thought it would be nice for me to pay it back at least in some way. So I inquired about serving on the Alumni Association Board of Directors and was accepted to serve on the Board. I’ll have been a board member my fifth year and final year in 2016. I’ve really enjoyed it.
 
“Since I love road trips so much, I don’t mind trekking back and forth from Texas to Bowling Green regularly. In the winter, I usually fly in and out of Detroit because I don’t trust the weather enough to make the drive in February. Serving on the Board has been wonderful and I’m glad I’ve volunteered. Bowling Green has just been a special place for me and it will always be that way.”
 
Bob graduated in 1972 with a psychology major and a sociology minor, but ultimately he chose a different career path.
 
“I went in the Air Force and from there it was back to New Jersey for graduate school,” Bob said.
 
Bob worked in public and private education, but then served the majority of his career as a Dallas County probation officer. He spent 23 years working at the probation department before retiring about seven years ago.
 
Each time Bob reflects on his life’s accomplishments, his mind always returns to Bowling Green, and that’s why he couldn’t think of a better place to propose to Mary.
 
“Now Bowling Green is a special place for Mary too.”
 
“I graduated from Texas Woman’s University and am so grateful for the many scholarships which I received and believe it's very important to give back,” Mary said. “I go to BGSU with Bob when he has his alumni meetings and I have developed many wonderful relationships with BGSU alumni and staff. I love the environment and I think it's a wonderful university for students to receive an education. Bob worked at WBGU TV so we thought that would be a great area to support.”