In Our View: A Leader With a Smile x

Every time Bob Moser entered a room, there was this automatic easing of tensions. Representatives of even the most disparate groups seemed to sense they were about to be steered toward collaboration and compromise.Our community lost more than just a powerful consensus builder with the passing of Moser on Sunday at age 82. We also lost an all-around good guy. And with contention rising in many of today’s public arenas, this loss is felt by countless people who love Clark County as much as they loved Bob.

Before we recite Moser’s best-known accomplishments, here’s one of our favorites from lower on the list, one that did not change the world but illustrates Moser’s eagerness to bring people together in common cause. In 1993, he felt the need to organize the Robert Moser Society. Bob found almost 600 of them, managed to contact about 200, distributed a newsletter and even organized a “convention” in Columbia, Mo. We’re sure our Bob was the friendliest of the seven who showed up.