Robert (Bob) D. Schmidt was born on January 1, 1925, in Fairmont, Minnesota. He married Lucille Weltsch on April 23, 1944, and they had five children: Robert, Susan Schmidt Jedlund, William, Peter, and Connie Schmidt Skinner.
Bob was an enlisted man in the navy until his release following WWII. He attended Mankato State College and graduated with honors in 1949, majoring in math and physics. He pursued graduate studies at Oklahoma State University. After leaving graduate school, Bob served as a commissioned naval officer assigned to Naval Intelligence in Washington, D.C. during the Korean War. Upon release from service, he entered the then fledgling computer field; Bob later served as Vice Chairman of Control Data Corporation. Bob also served his country as President of the American Committee on East-West Accord and as a member of President Reagan's Export Council. These experiences taught him to believe in the development of foreign trade policy as a means to maintaining peace.
Bob received the distinguished Alumnus Award from MSU in 1981. His children say their father was a man who firmly believed in education. Because of the life lessons he passed on to them, Bob's children and his wife, Lucy, have chosen to establish a family scholarship endowment in his name.
