Lieutenant Colonel James R. “Bob” Swindell, USAF (Ret.) was an alumnus of The University of Tulsa (BS ’50, Marketing), who proudly served for more than 33 years as a member of the United States Air Force Reserve. A veteran of the Korean and Vietnam Wars, Lt. Col. Swindell fulfilled assignments that included squadron navigator, base contracting officer and command post controller. At the time of his retirement, he was the administrative officer of the 439th Military Air Force Wing of the Air Force Reserve at Westover Air Force Base in Chicopee, Massachusetts.
While a student at TU, Lt. Col. Swindell was a member of Lambda Chi Alpha fraternity and The Sound of the Golden Hurricane marching band. He was the brother of the late Calvin Swindell (BS ’44), the late Betty Swindell Jewell (BA ’46), and the late Ruth A. Allen (BA ’49), all loyal and generous TU alumni.
In 2014, Bob, Calvin and Betty were collectively honored with The Spirit of TU Award at the TU Homecoming celebration. As the inaugural recipients of this award, the three siblings were recognized for their exceptional enthusiasm for and devotion to TU, both in spirit and generosity.
Lt. Col. Swindell and his wife, the late Jeanne Swindell, actively supported his alma mater for many years. He was an Annual Fund Challenger for and a member of the esteemed Dean’s Circle of the Collins College of Business. He also was a frequent guest lecturer for the Business Law program. In addition, he supported the TU Annual Fund, the McFarlin Library Annual Fund, the Golden Hurricane Club, and two important scholarship funds he created to help TU recruit the finest young scholars in the nation: The Lieutenant Colonel James Robert Swindell Presidential Scholarship and The Lt. Col. James Robert Swindell, USAF (Ret.) Presidential Scholarship Endowment Fund for the Collins College of Business.
His extraordinary generosity and devotion to his alma mater brought him recognition as a member of the TU President’s Council, the Circle Society, and the Chapman Legacy Society, making him a celebrated partner in the University’s progress.
Lt. Col. Swindell passed away in 2018, leaving a legacy of opportunity for the students who will follow in his footsteps on TU’s campus for generations to come.
