Ex-schools chief Bob Dosier dies [Belleville News-Democrat, Ill.]

Nov. 29--Former Belleville High School District 201 Superintendent John "Bob" Dosier, the father of the school system's current top administrator, died Sunday night following a battle with cancer. He was 77.

Dosier, of Belleville, came to the Belleville Township High School District in 1963 as a counselor after starting his career as a teacher in Columbia. He soon became an assistant principal and was named an assistant superintendent in 1968.

Dosier took over as superintendent of District 201 in 1985. He held the job until his retirement in 1993.

"He was a great superintendent and a very good man," said Doug Dahm, who served as Dosier's assistant superintendent during his tenure. "He was really smart, knew education backwards and forwards, and was someone you could trust. He was my mentor for sure -- and also a friend. I greatly appreciated everything about him."

His peers knew Dosier as an expert on the nuts and bolts of running a school, especially in the area of budgeting and finance.

"Administrators of my generation always knew Bob would be there for us," retired District 118 Superintendent Jim Rosborg said. "We knew his knowledge of school finance, collective bargaining, insurance issues, and legislative issues were second to none. Personally, I will greatly miss Bob as I always admired his strength and fortitude to do the right thing and to stand up for issues that helped students and all of those around him."

Dosier's son Jeff, who was named last week as the interim superintendent in District 201, said he never consciously set out to follow in his dad's footsteps. But, by following his example, he ended up on the same path.

He was glad to be able to tell his dad he became superintendent before the elder Dosier passed away.

"He always just told me to work hard and do my best," Jeff Dosier said. "We had a lot of conversations about education. But he wanted me to find a profession that I enjoyed. My mom was a teacher also. So it was just sort of natural that I became a teacher and then I went on to administration. Both my dad and I have been very lucky to be here in this community that is so supporting of education."

Jeff Dosier said his father's legacy is his personality and management style more than a building or policy that was created during his tenure.

"He was pretty humble and didn't talk about himself a lot," Jeff Dosier said. "But I know he was well respected and well liked by the staff and the community. The number of people who came to see him and talk to him to tell him how influential he was in their lives over the past few months was overwhelming."

A memorial service for Dosier will be held at 11 a.m. Wednesday at St. Matthew United Methodist Church, 1200 Moreland Drive, in Belleville. Visitation will be held from 3 to 8 p.m. today at St. Matthew and immediately preceding the funeral service from 9 to 11 a.m. Wednesday. He will be buried at Valhalla Gardens of Memory.

Dosier is survived by his wife, Donna, and his sons Jeff and John. Jeff became interim superintendent in District 201 after a career as an administrator there and in Belleville Elementary School District 118. John is the president of First Southern Bank in Carbondale.

The family asked that memorial gifts be directed to McKendree University, St. Matthew United Methodist Church, Hospice of Southwestern Illinois, Belleville District 201 Scholarship Fund or American Cancer Society Coaches vs. Cancer.

Contact reporter Scott Wuerz at swuerz@bnd.com or call 239-2626.

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