Robert A. Pascal (July 20, 1934 – March 12, 2021) was an American Republican politician, collegiate football player, professional Canadian football player and a

propane Propane () is a three-carbon alkane with the molecular formula . It is a gas at standard temperature and pressure, but compressible to a transportable liquid. A by-product of natural gas processing and petroleum refining, it is commonly used a ...

entrepreneur who served as County Executive of Anne Arundel County, Maryland from 1975 to 1982.

Early life

Pascal was born in Glen Ridge, New Jersey. He was raised in Bloomfield, New Jersey, where his father worked in the local school district, and he attended Bloomfield High School. He played football at

Duke University Duke University is a private research university in Durham, North Carolina. Founded by Methodists and Quakers in the present-day city of Trinity in 1838, the school moved to Durham in 1892. In 1924, tobacco and electric power industrialist James ...

. During this time, Pascal earned first team All-American as a halfback in 1955. He led the Duke Blue Devils in rushing for two seasons, and was named team MVP in 1955. He was also a two time first team All-ACC selection. After graduating from Duke in 1956, Pascal was drafted in the third round by the

Baltimore Colts The Baltimore Colts were a professional American football team that played in Baltimore from its founding in 1953 to 1984. The team now plays in Indianapolis, as the Indianapolis Colts. The team was named for Baltimore's history of horse breed ...

. Pascal instead decided to play in the Canadian Football League for the Montreal Alouettes. During his one season in the league, he played for the

Grey Cup The Grey Cup (french: Coupe Grey) is both the championship game of the Canadian Football League (CFL) and the trophy awarded to the victorious team playing in the namesake championship of professional Canadian football. The game is contested be ...

Career

After playing in the Canadian Football League, Pascal then moved back to the United States and entered the propane business. He eventually bought his own company, United Propane, and built it into one of the top 25 in the country. Pascal sold the company to

Inergy, L.P. Inergy, L.P. () is an American supplier of propane based in Kansas City, Missouri that claims to be the fourth-largest propane retailer in the United States. Serving 800,000 customers in 28 states. It is also a major salt miner via its U.S. S ...

in 2003. Pascal also entered politics. Pascal was a

State Senator A state senator is a member of a state's senate in the bicameral legislature of 49 U.S. states, or a member of the unicameral Nebraska Legislature. Description A state senator is a member of an upper house in the bicameral legislatures of 49 U ...

from 1971 to 1974. From 1974 to 1982 he served as the Anne Arundel County Executive and was key to the creation of

Kinder Farm Park Kinder Farm Park is a park located in rural Millersvile, Anne Arundel County, Maryland, United States The United States of America (U.S.A. or USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S. or US) or America, is a country primarily loca ...

, which he had the county buy from the Kinder family. Pascal was the Republican nominee for Governor of Maryland in 1982, losing to incumbent

Harry R. Hughes Harry Roe Hughes (November 13, 1926 – March 13, 2019) was an American politician from the Democratic Party who served as the 57th Governor of Maryland from 1979 to 1987. Early life and family Hughes was born in Easton, Maryland, the s ...

. Pascal served as the Secretary of Appointments to Governor William Donald Schaefer from 1989 to 1995.

Legacy

The following have been named after Bob Pascal: * Pascal Field House,

Durham, North Carolina Durham ( ) is a city in the U.S. state of North Carolina and the county seat of Durham County, North Carolina, Durham County. Small portions of the city limits extend into Orange County, North Carolina, Orange County and Wake County, North Carol ...

* Pascal Senior Center, Glen Burnie, Maryland — Anne Arundel County's first senior center * Pascal Center for the Performing Arts,

Anne Arundel Community College Anne Arundel Community College (AACC) is a public community college in Arnold, Maryland. The college was founded in 1961 and is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education. The community college offers letters of recognition, 4 ...

, Arnold, Maryland * Pascal Field, St. Mary's High School,

Annapolis, Maryland Annapolis ( ) is the capital city of the U.S. state of Maryland and the county seat of, and only incorporated city in, Anne Arundel County. Situated on the Chesapeake Bay at the mouth of the Severn River, south of Baltimore and about east o ...

* Robert A. Pascal Youth & Family Services, Inc., Odenton, Maryland

Philanthropy

Pascal donated $6 million to Duke University to help fund the construction of an indoor practice facility for the Duke football team. The facility was later named the Pascal Field House in his honor.

Personal life

Pascal had four daughters, Catherine Anne, Margaret, Clara, and Robin.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Pascal, Robert A. 1934 births 20th-century American politicians 2021 deaths American athlete-politicians American energy industry businesspeople American players of Canadian football Anne Arundel County Executives Bloomfield High School (New Jersey) alumni Duke Blue Devils football players Duke University alumni Republican Party Maryland state senators Montreal Alouettes players People from Bloomfield, New Jersey People from Glen Ridge, New Jersey Players of American football from New Jersey Sportspeople from Essex County, New Jersey