The signature pick-up with numerous anti-abortion and anti-Darwin stickers plastered on the back of it parked in the Beach Building parking lot will soon only be a memory.

After 45 years of higher education teaching, Dr. Robert O’Bannon, professor of biology, is set to retire at the end of the year.

The well-known professor has a non-traditional but effective teaching style that strives to engage students and enhance their learning.

“I consider my teaching a ministry,” O’Bannon said. “Not a job!”

O’Bannon’s students also noticed the impact of the message he shared with them each class meeting.

“Dr. O. cared about everyone he came into contact with,” said Jessica Robbins, senior health science major. “He is kind-hearted and very knowledgeable. You can tell how much he loves to share his intelligence.”

Much of O’Bannon’s teaching style comes from him being an extreme creationist, which gives him an advantage to teach a whole class about science and how it relates to scripture.

“He is a staunch creationist,” said Jennifer Bowman, granddaughter of O’Bannon and junior communications major. “Once he had to write a research paper describing Darwin’s theory of evolution in grad school and he ended it with ‘But I don’t believe a word of this.’”

O’Bannon started his first year of schooling at Lee in 1959 but after one year had to fill a pastor position in East Tennessee, where he finished his undergraduate course work at East Tennessee State University.

He received his Master of Arts degree in nutrition and finished his doctoral program at the University of Florida, all by 1963.

He is originally from Zellwood, Fla., where he grew up until the time he came to Lee.

“My folks were Church of God ministers in Florida,” O’Bannon said. “I was active in 4H during high school, played the bass drum in band and was the editor of my school paper.”

However, O’Bannon has had the opportunity to travel and live in numerous places throughout the world, including six months in Cairo, Egypt, and two and a half years in Lebanon.

“After our first year at Lee we served as missionaries in Egypt and Beirut, Lebanon for two years,” O’Bannon said. “We were evacuated out because of the six day war and returned to Lee.”

O’Bannon said that the one thing he will miss the most is the interaction with the students and faculty.

“My favorite memory of Dr. O’Bannon would have to be time spent getting coffee in the teacher’s area and just chatting about life,” said Kaitlyn Sirico-Simmers, Lee alumna of 2007 who graduated with a biology degree. “I loved how sweetly Dr. O. would talk about his wife and how much he loved her. He also enjoyed telling us about his children and how proud he was of them.”

The love that O’Bannon shares with his wife is undeniable. During the last few years, O’Bannon’s wife has had kidney failure, which has led to the need for two kidney transplants. Due to her condition and her need for dialysis three days per week, O’Bannon is not teaching this semester.

“She was a music major at Lee and has been an organist at Westmore Church of God for many years,” O’Bannon said. “I married a great cook and excellent musician, [who] helped rear three smart children and who still loves the Lord.”

Though O’Bannon will officially retire in the fall, he was granted sabbatical for the semester.

During his sabbatical, O’Bannon said that he is working on finishing a book that will focus on science in the Bible. He says he currently has 15 chapters completed.

“Working in the same environment with Dr. O’Bannon the last few years has been a pleasure,” said Lacey Noles, junior pre-med major. “Getting to know him and what a pleasant man he is [and has been] a real treat.”

During his career at Lee, O’Bannon has received two top faculty awards, Excellence in Teaching (1980) and Excellence in Scholarship (1989).

In 2002 O’Bannon was honored for his many years of service and dedication with a side of O’Bannon/ Bowdle residence hall being named after him.

“Even though he was a very opinionated man, he did truly care about his students,” Sirico-Simmers said. “In my first year I remember thinking how it was really cool that some of the older science majors would say hi to their teachers in the hall or talk to them about things other than class. Dr. O. was one of those teachers.”

O’Bannon has three children Randy, Bethany and Terry, along with five grandchildren.

“He hates all modern technology,” Bowman shared. “He loves to garden, farm and work outside.”

O’Bannon has lived in the same farmhouse for over 30 years. He has two dogs, Max and Aslan, and two horses, Ruby and Lady.

O’Bannon’s farm has been the site of Sadie Hawkins, sponsored by Upsilon for upwards of 30 years.

Commenting on O’Bannon’s love for animals Bowman said, “He puts butter and cheese in the dog’s bowl and microwaves it before giving it to them.”

All who have come in contact with him will truly miss the caring heart of O’Bannon.

He always had a soft spot for his students and strived to lend a hand to all in need.

“He used to let people stay in spare rooms of his house if they couldn’t afford housing in exchange for working around the farm,” said Bowman.

Though O’Bannon will no longer be a fixed face in the science building, his unique teaching style and his compassionate memories will continue to last.