R. J. Moss Memoiral Scholarship

AT IDAHO STATE UNIVERSITY

Robert James Moss was born May 21, 1964, in Concordia, Kansas to Charles and Martha Moss. Because of a job opportunity, his family moved to Pocatello when R.J. was seven years old.

Shortly after the family moved to Pocatello, R.J. and his two older brothers, David and Steve, spent two weeks climbing Idaho’s Castle Peak and later, climbed in the White Clouds area. These new experiences helped the boys lose their homesickness for Kansas.

R.J. was a splendid skier. Apart from skiing, R.J. picked up the art of unicycle riding at a very early age. He competed in speed skating. He developed the knack of sketching with pen and ink. One of his sketches of a woman has become a much treasured present to his brother, Steve. Characters from the Spiderman comics were always candidates for re-creation. In the seventh grade, he was the “Duke” at the annual Alameda Junior High School Valentines’ dance. While attending Highland High school, he received a “Certificate of Achievement for Outstanding Excellence” from the National Honor Society. The award was for arts and crafts.

The family lived in Pocatello until 1986 where R.J.‘s father was the City Manager. All three sons attended Idaho State University. David took most of his undergraduate work at ISU and graduated with a degree in Physical Therapy from the University of Utah. Steve was involved in electrical engineering and computer aided design at the Vocational Technical School at ISU. R.J. was finishing a second group of courses at ISU’s Vocational Technical School when he was stricken with bone cancer. He died in April of 1989 after demonstrating a deep strength of courage and unselfish consideration for his family and friends.

While R.J. was in college he found employment, often holding more than one job at a time. He worked at the Sea Galley restaurant, several convenience stores, the Pocatello Mall, and later in advertising agencies in the Boise area.

For a time, his illness did not prohibit his ability to travel. He spent time with his brother, Dave, in California where he participated in mountain bike races, and time with his Grandmother in Kansas. R.J. drove from Boise to Pocatello often. During this time, he developed a picture history of the family, dating back to the mid 1880’s.

As he matured, he maintained a very strong work ethic, possibly from his maternal grandfather, who at a very young age worked his way around the world several times. He also had great compassion for others – possibly a legacy of his paternal grandfather, a Methodist minister.

R.J., a very talented and special person, was very pleased to have known about this scholarship because he knew it would foster special talents in others.