Robert H. “Bob” Buckman and his family have been steadfast pillars of support to the Rhodes College community for decades, and the college is profoundly grateful for their unwavering commitment. Buckman passed away May 31, 2026, following a brief illness and will be greatly missed by many.
Buckman joined the Rhodes College Board of Trustees in 1980 and was actively involved for 46 years, serving as a voting trustee from 1980 to 2010 and as a member of the Council of Emeriti Trustees until his death. His connection to Rhodes was deep and lasting. He and his wife, Joyce Mollerup, were married on campus in Halliburton Tower. As chairman of the board and CEO of Bulab Holdings, Inc., the holding company of Buckman Laboratories, from 1978 to 2000, Buckman earned international recognition for his business acumen and innovative strategies. Buckman championed the idea that international experiences and learning could transform lives, and his philanthropy and mentorship have significantly enriched the Rhodes community by creating opportunities for faculty, staff, and students.
As the head of a company with a global reach, Buckman believed deeply in educating students to live and work in an interconnected world, and he directed much of his philanthropy to international topics and experiences. The Mertie W. Buckman International Internship Program was initiated in 1994 by a generous gift from the Buckman family to provide outstanding international studies majors at Rhodes opportunities to work abroad during the summer months. The college’s Buckman Center for International Education opened in 2002 and since then has enabled hundreds of students to live and study abroad. He appreciated the impact faculty dedicated to teaching could have on their students and established the Stanley J. Buckman Distinguished Professorship of International Studies (in honor of his father); the Mertie Willigar Buckman Chair in International Studies (in honor of his mother); and the P. K. Seidman Distinguished Professorship of Political Economy (in honor of his friend P.K. Seidman).
He was committed to ensuring students could access a Rhodes education and thrive. To support students and honor his dear friend, Rhodes President Emeritus James Daughdrill, and his wife, Buckman established the James and Elizabeth Daughdrill Scholarship, a full scholarship awarded annually for one talented student with financial need. Buckman also supported several programs including the John D. Buckman Endowment for the Laurence F. Kinney Program, the Robert H. Buckman International Recruitment Endowment, the Rhodes International Studies Washington Connection program, and the list goes on and on. Buckman Hall, which houses business, economics, history, and international studies, is named in honor of the Buckman family.
For his service and contributions, Rhodes awarded Buckman the 2008 Distinguished Service Medal and the Honorary Doctor of Humanities in 2013. He and Joyce became inaugural members of the Peyton Nalle Rhodes Society in 2017 and are longtime members of the Benefactors’ Circle.
The Buckman family’s generosity impacted the Memphis community and Rhodes College; their legacy will serve as an inspiration for generations to come.