Macon sports legend, former Mercer AD Bobby Pope dies at 75
Former Mercer Athletic Director and Georgia Sports Hall of Famer Bobby Pope died on Sunday at the age of 75, according to a release from Mercer University.
Pope began broadcasting basketball games in 1980 as well as taking on the role of Sports Information Director. He served in that role for nine years before becoming the athletic director, a position he held for over two decades. During his time as the AD, Pope expanded the department to 14 sports, including the addition of full-time coaches in men’s and women’s golf, men’s and women’s tennis and cross country.
“Over the more than three decades that Bobby Pope was associated with Mercer Athletics, he touched the lives of hundreds of student-athletes, coaches and fans and was synonymous with the Mercer Bears,” Mercer President William D. Underwood said. “Our thoughts and prayers are with Carol, Andy, Krissy and other members of the Pope family.”
Pope served two years as president at the Atlantic Sun Conference and was a member of numerous committees, including eight years on the Executive Committee. He served on five NCAA Peer Review Committees. He also served as the conference president for two years in the late 1990s.
His contributions to sports in both broadcasting and administration landed him in multiple honors including induction into the Mercer Athletics Hall of Fame, the Macon Sports Hall of Fame, the Georgia Radio Hall of Fame and earlier this year the Georgia Sports Hall of Fame.
“Bobby Pope was a true prince of a man,” current Mercer Athletic Director Jim Cole said . “He loved Mercer and all its students and student-athletes. He gave me a chance to compete back in the early 90’s. I will forever be grateful. He will be truly missed by all the Mercer family.”
Pope worked as a sports anchor for WMAZ-TV. He called high school football and basketball games from the mid-60s through 1972 on WMAC-AM. During this time he became the “Voice of the Bears” calling games for Mercer Athletics starting in 1970.
“Bobby had an amazing reserve of love, compassion and generosity. He ran a great race full of life and encouragement for those around him,” Sybil Blalock, Mercer deputy athletic director and senior woman administrator, said. “Bobby shared so much, including his sense of good humor, and we learned so much from him along his journey. I am eternally grateful for his friendship, and my heart goes out to his family. We’ve lost a tremendous person who had an incredible impact on so many people.”
A native of Thomaston and a Georgia College and State University graduate, Pope served in various roles in Middle Georgia, including as treasurer of the Macon Touchdown Club and as a member of Georgia Sports Hall of Fame Authority. He was also a contributor for the Telegraph, writing a reoccurring column.
Pope and his wife Carol have two children: Andy, a 1998 graduate of the University of Georgia, and Krissy, a 2001 Mercer graduate.
A private memorial service will be held at Forest Hills United Methodist. To view the service, visit www.hartsmort.com at 11 a.m. Friday.
This story was originally published September 9, 2020 at 7:00 AM.