Bob Ross accumulated a variety of experiences growing up in the Caribbean, California, and Florida, where he attended the University of Florida. As a land grant college, ROTC was mandato-ry for physically fit males; it was, after all, the '60s and the Viet Nam War was raging half a world away. A modest cadet stipend and part-time job helped pay room and board. On the same day he graduated with a BS in Business Ad-ministration, the Army commissioned him a 2nd Lieutenant of Ar-mor. Following training at Fort Knox, KY and Fort Benning, GA, the Army assigned him to Fort Lee, VA. Subsequent assignments took the Rosses to Army posts throughout the continental United States, Hawaii, the Republic of Panama, Bolivia, Honduras, South Korea, Thailand, Japan, Egypt, Kuwait, and a tour on the Joint Staff at the Pentagon during the First Gulf War. Bob completed a master's degree in Inventory Manage-ment and a Senior Officials in National Security fellowship at Har-vard's JFK School of Government.After retiring as a colonel, Ross started and ran his own consulting business for seven years, then pursued digital photog-raphy and earned his FAA drone pilot certification.

In GA, Bob also worked with another equally concerned cit-izen and several allies to replace all five county commissioners, two school board members, a mayor, a city councilman, and the county sheriff. At the state level, the Atlanta Journal Constitution newspa-per described him as "A pillar of the [anti-sales tax increase] cam-paign."Bob met and married Joye, the daughter of an engaging low-country South Carolina farmer and WWII combat veteran. Their son and daughter achieved Boy Scout Eagle rank and Girl Scout Gold Award status respectively. Bob and his wife regularly enjoy spend-ing time with their five grandchildren.