IN MEMORY

Robert Edmond Gregg

Almost two years ago, now, an event occurred that I 
would never have imagined precipitating.  A Belleek 
Honouree Medallion surfaced, for bid, on E-BAY.  It 
was the medallion of the late Robert Gregg, Third 
Honouree of the B.C.I.S.  I wish to thank all those 
who cooperated in NOT bidding such that we, as a 
Society, were capable of obtaining this precious 
medallion.  I, along with the Worldwide B.C.I.S. 
Members, now present it back to the Pottery in hopes 
that it will be displayed next to Robert's picture in 
the Honouree's Gallery.

Robert was a very accomplished man.  His obituary only 
glances at a handful of his numerous achievements.  
The complete text of his obituary, from the Daily 
Camera, Boulder, Colorado may be viewed at the 
following Link :

Dr Gregg's Obituary !!

The Registrar's Office at the University of Chicago, 
lists Robert as graduating in 1935 with a B.S. in 
Zoology and completing his Ph.D., also in Zoology in 
1941.

His achievements are recognized as he is honoured with 
a listing in the American Men and Women of Science 
Journal which may be viewed at the Link :

AMWOS Journal Listing !!

For those of you not familiar with the honour of 
Emeritus, this is NOT simply an honourary degree, 
it is a title bestowed on those, whom in the opinion 
of their peers, have achieved the highest level of 
accomplishment in their chosen field.  For example, 
a Professor Emeritus of Computer Science would, most 
likely, also hold advanced degrees in Mathematics as 
well as Electrical Engineering.  They would also have 
published articles in every major journal and compiled 
volumes of their relevant research. 

As his obituary states, Robert and his wife, spent in 
excess of 40 years, collecting and categorizing ants.  
This vast collection was bequeathed to the Museum of 
Natural History, Chicago, Illinois.  The Director of 
Insect Collections at the Museum, considers Robert's 
contribution the fourth most important collection of 
ants in the Western hemisphere.  Although the collection 
contains examples of every insect species, since Robert 
specialized in ants, his collection contains in excess 
of ONE MILLION Species of ants.

Along with Robert's ant collection, the Museum also 
was the recipient of his collected research papers and 
extensive Entomological Library.  Both the physical 
collection and reference library are ONLY available to 
students of entomology.  They are not currently available 
for public display.

His extensive Belleek collection was bequeathed to the 
Art Museum at Miami University in Oxford, Ohio.  Their 
Curator of Collections, states that Robert's collection 
contains a marvelous selection of the world famous 
Belleek Basket Ware among many other rare items.  

Unfortunately, similar to other museums in the world, 
this one is also under funded, and as such, is not 
capable of displaying his impressive Belleek Collection 
on a permanent basis.  It has been, and will be, on 
public display in the future.  No exact dates have been 
set at this time but, if you are planning to be in the 
Ohio area, you may wish to contact the Museum directly 
at 1.513.529.2232 and ask the Museum Staff if his 
collection is currently on display. 

Commander Fred B. Gary, U.S.N.R., Belleek's First, and 
deservedly so, Honouree remembers his very good friend 
and Belleek Tour Companion, Robert 'The Bog Man', in a 
couple of precious anecdotes.  

On one Belleek Tour, Robert, attempting to position 
himself for a 'better' camera shot, hopped over a ditch, 
by the side of the road, and squarely into a 'bog'.  
He emerged, mud oozing from his shoes and pants legs, 
'The Bog Man'.  From this moment on, Robert always 
signed his correspondence with Fred as 'The Bog Man'.

For those of you not familiar with a bog, it is similar 
to thick muddy marsh area which, is very often obscured 
by the 'peat' growing over it.

On another occasion, during a Belleek tour, Fred recalls 
that the busses were waiting for their passengers to 
load for continuation on to the next destination.  
Robert was nowhere to be seen.  Eventually he arrived 
and nervously hunted around for a glass container.  
Finding none, he settled for a plastic bag and within 
several minutes returned with a baggie full of ants, 
a species he claimed had never been catalogued 
previously.

Now, to put this in it's proper perspective, remember 
that Robert's collection contained in excess of one 
million unique species of ants.  He was capable of  
distinguishing a SINGLE NEW, unrecorded species?  
Belleek's Millennium Catalogue ONLY lists 2,603 items 
in current production and I couldn't even attempt to 
name them all!

Our Fifth Belleek Honouree, Donald H. Clinton, remembers 
his friend Robert with several succinct observations :

"He fell in love with Belleek as a small boy of 10 
and told of his parent's collection growing from a 
'shamrock iron pot sugar and creamer' and his own 
collection exceeding 450 pieces at the time he was 
honored by the Pottery in 1988.

"For Seventy years he enjoyed collecting the precious 
Parian which we all treasure and his appreciation was 
all the greater enhanced by his love of the people of 
Ireland mid their indomitable spirit.  He was as proud 
as a shiny pound when they placed the Belleek Chain of 
honor around his neck, that evening in Donegal, on 
July 21st.

"It was said of him that he had a 'tireless pursuit of 
knowledge' which was demonstrated in so many ways.

"Dr. Gregg was motivated by a most inquisitive mind and 
the sagacity to match it.  His voracious and adventurous 
spirit sent him from pole to pole and then some, seeking 
satisfying answers to his curiosity.

"I'll never forget being with Bob, in Ireland, when he 
bought the 'King of Baskets' of Belleek baskets: THE 
RATHMORE.  It was an exquisite example of the craft 
which crowned his collection and he carried it all the 
way back to Denver on his lap, not trusting the over-head 
luggage bin or the other passengers.

In retrospect, Donald, who is also the Pottery's Resident 
Poet Laureate, honoured his friend Robert with a Limerick 
he composed which, may be read at the Link :

Don Clinton's Remembrance Limerick !!

For those of you Belleekers, whom might not have been 
privileged to view an Honouree's Medallion, below is a 
display of the front and reverse of the Male flavour :





Note, the Female flavour is decorated in the Belleek 
Pink Trim.  Also, each medallion is Marked with the 
appropriate Period Mark.

Robert Edmond Gregg, Ph.D. (Zoology), Professor Emeritus,
Phi Beta Kappa, Belleek Honouree, Friend, R.I.P.