Longtime Lawrence developer Bob Moore dies at 85

Moore was a graduate of Lawrence High School and attended Kansas University for two years before leaving school to marry Marna Joy Brewer, his son Martin Moore said Wednesday.

Bob and Marna had three children: Melonie Moore Sullivan, Martin Moore and Matthew Moore, who is deceased.

After leaving college, Bob Moore began helping a builder construct homes and became fascinated with the business, Martin Moore said.

Bob Moore began building starter homes and eventually his interests changed to apartment complexes. He partnered with Duane Schwada for several years and built thousands of units, including Meadowbrook Apartments, just west of Iowa Street and Bob Billings Parkway.

Laird Noller, a close friend of Bob Moore’s, said he had great business acumen and, more importantly, he cared passionately about people.

“Bob didn’t brag about himself, about what he had done or his money,” Noller said. “He did a lot of giving anonymously. He didn’t want any credit for anything.”

Noller said Moore had a lot of sayings, and there was one that he especially liked.

“Say little when you lose, and less when you win,” Noller said “That’s the one that I always remember; don’t brag about your winnings and walk away as a champion.”

Martin Moore said his father and mother had been married 62 years when she died in October. He said his father did not recover from the death of his wife. Bob Moore lived in Palm Desert, Calif., during the winter, and he was there when he took ill.

Moore died Tuesday morning at Eisenhower Medical Center in nearby Rancho Mirage, Calif. He leaves behind two children and five grandchildren. Upon his request, no services are planned, his son said.