Robert Needham Sears, 79, prominent businessman, community and church leader, died Thursday, May 18, 1995, at his home in Salt Lake City.
Mr. Sears, a former oil-company executive, served on the boards of dozens of organizations, ranging from the Utah Symphony and the Utah Humanities Council to the National Accrediting Commission for Business Schools, the American Indian Institute and the Utah Air Travel Commission.In recent years Mr. Sears lived in St. George but also maintained a residence in Salt Lake City.
Mr. Sears began his professional career in 1947 as assistant to the president of Wasatch Oil Co., later acquired by Phillips Petroleum Co. He eventually became senior vice president for Phillips, a post he held until his retirement in 1979. He was also a director of American Oil Co. in Kuwait for 12 years and was president of Phillips Investment Co. and Phillips Petroleum International Investment Co. Other directorships included appointments to boards governing WRFM in New York, KSL in Salt Lake City and Zions Bancorporation in Salt Lake City.
He received numerous academic honors. The University of Utah in 1956 gave him its "Outstanding Achievement in Business Award." The school's College of Engineering and Mines and Mineral Adventures awarded him an honorary fuels-engineer degree and in 1974 the university gave him its Distinguished Alumni Award. He was a World War II Navy veteran.
From 1972 to 1976 Mr. Sears was chairman of the National Advisory Council for the College of Business at Brigham Young University. He received the Jessie R. Knight Industrial Citizenship Award from BYU in 1972 and in 1985 was recipient of Dixie College's Distinguished Service Award.
He volunteered for more than 25 years in various positions for the Boy Scouts of America and in 1990 received the organization's Distinguished Eagle Award.
Mr. Sears' service to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints was extensive, including serving as a branch president and district president. His appointments included first counselor of the Central States Mission Presidency, stake president of the Tulsa Stake and member of the Church-wide Priesthood Home Teaching Committee.
He also served the church by raising $5 million for the First Presidency Missionary Trust Fund.
Funeral services will be at 11 a.m. Wednesday, May 24, in St. George at the Bloomington 7th Ward chapel on Mulberry Drive. Friends may call Tuesday from 7 to 8 p.m. at Metcalf Mortuary, 300 W. St. George Blvd., and Wednesday from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. Graveside services will be Thursday at 2 p.m. in the Salt Lake City Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests contributions to the proposed Dixie Art Museum or the Heart and Lung Institute of LDS Hospital.