It is with deep sadness we inform you that Bobby Ammerman passed away on December 9th after a long battle with cancer.
Bobby was highly respected and valued, both within the University of Kentucky and among Kentucky’s forest products industry. Since 1998, Bobby served as a Wood Products Extension Associate at the University of Kentucky where he earned tremendous respect from years of valued professional service working with the forest products industry. His accomplishments are amazing. He was responsible for helping numerous forest product industries to remain competitive. The training he provided at UK’s Wood Utilization Center at Quicksand, Kentucky was responsible for the location of a major American Woodmark plant in Perry County employing over 250 people. Bobby was the first and only member of the University of Kentucky asked to serve on the Board of Directors of the Kentucky Forest Industries Association. He was the driving force behind the Ohio Valley Lumber Drying Association and through continuing education helped generate over $10 million dollars annually for lumber drying industries in the region. Bobby was manager of the forest industry section of the Center for Forest and Wood Certification, where he managed one of the largest groups of certified small forest products companies in the U.S. With his direct aid, these companies sold $20 million dollars of certified products annually. This is only a short list of those that Bobby helped in his career at the University.
Bobby’s touch went well beyond the industries he was able to help. He will be most remembered by those he worked with at the UK Department of Forestry and Natural Resources and at the Robinson Center for Appalachian Resource Sustainability where the new 80-seat lecture hall he designed bears his name. He was a respected professional, a warm and caring individual, and most importantly a friend, husband, and father that we will all truly miss.
A visitation for Bobby is being held on December 15, 5pm to 8pm, with a brief service at 6pm, at Newnam Funeral Home Chapel, 108 Center St., Beattyville, KY 41311. Donations preferred to Passionately Pink, PO Box 743, Beattyville, KY 41311.
