Submitted by: Dan Rich

Robert V. Batteast Sr.

July 16, 1931 -- Dec. 24, 2003

South Bend Tribune 12/28/2003

Robert V. Batteast Sr., 72, entered into eternity at 12:30 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 24, in Saint Joseph's Regional Medical Center after an extended illness. A native of Wilkerson County, Miss., Mr. Batteast moved to South Bend, Ind., with his wife, Dorothy Ivory, who preceded him in death in 1967. To this union were born four children, Robert Jr., Ronald, James and Valerie. He has another daughter, Carroll Baker. He was preceded in death by his parents, Clarence and Effie Tillery Batteast; two brothers, William and Wayne; and a sister-in-law, Octavia. His son, Robert Jr., also preceded him in death in 1995.

He is survived by his wife of 36 years, Senola "Nora" Batteast; four children, Carroll (John) Baker of Linwood, Ill., Ronald (Patricia) Batteast of South Bend, James Batteast and Valerie (Roy) Fleming of Chicago, Ill.; seven grandchildren, Aneitra Batteast-Hurdle, Brian, Darren, Danielle, JaRon, Shyra and Ryan Batteast; two great-grandchildren, Tyerell and Carolyn; a brother, Rayford (Lee Pearl) Batieste of Natchez, Miss.; a sister-in-law, Jacqueline Batteast; and a host of other relatives and friends.

Mr. Batteast was the CEO and founder of Batteast Construction Company of South Bend, 1967 to present. Mr. Batteast remains one of the leading black entrepreneurs in the country. He earned his bachelor's degree from Indiana University and MBA from Dartmouth College. Mr. Batteast was also a member of the Business Partners of the University of Notre Dame, and has been the recipient of numerous awards, including: Appreciation for Outstanding Contributions to the White House Conference on Small Business in 1980, the U.S. SBA Administrator's Award for excellence in 1983, Certificate of Merit from Chicago's Mayor Harold Washington in 1985, Certificate of Citizenship from the City of Atlanta's Mayor Andrew Johnson in 1986, and numerous other awards and accolades.

Mr. Batteast ushered Batteast Construction Company into Black Enterprises' "Top 100 Black Businesses" from 1982 through 1986. Mr. Batteast's business acumen, community service and leadership was frequently tapped through business publications, board memberships and shining example. Mr. Batteast's philosophy of "I refuse to serve on anything if I can't contribute in some way. I am outspoken, sometimes to my detriment. I've always been that way, but I had to be true to me. To be any other way, I'd be somebody else," is his legacy. His intense love of family and his commitments to minority education and community will live on.