Robert Crouse

CROUSE Robert L. “Rob” Crouse, age 76, of Jefferson City, Mo., passed away Monday, October 9, 2023, at Barnes-Jewish Hospital in St. Louis, Mo. Born in St. Joseph, Mo. on September 7, 1947, to Bob and Jeane Crouse, Rob grew up in Mound City, Mo. and graduated from Mound City High School in 1965. He then attended the University of Missouri-Columbia where he earned both a BA in English (1965) and an MA in Speech and Theatre (1975) as well as a Lifetime Teaching Certificate. Rob holds the historical distinction of being the longest serving Executive Speechwriter for Missouri Governors in the state’s history. From 1995-2005 he served in this capacity for Missouri Governors Mel Carnahan, Roger Wilson, and Bob Holden. Before entering the Governor’s office, Rob began his professional career as an educator, serving as the Chair of the English, Speech, and Theatre Department at Nodaway Holt R-VII High School (1969-1973) and Chair of the English, Speech, and Theatre Department at Cameron R-1 High School (1973-1987). Then he and his family moved to Jefferson City where he performed public relations and spokesperson duties for the Missouri House of Representatives as Public Information Officer (1987-1992) and House Director of Press Communications (1992-1995). Upon leaving the Governor’s office in 2005, he spent most of the year writing economic development speeches for Governor Matt Blunt and other government leaders and launching, writing, and administrating a statewide economic development monthly cable television program as Public Information Coordinator for the Missouri Department of Economic Development. Always active in Democratic politics, Rob worked on the presidential campaigns of President Bill Clinton (1992 bus tours across the Midwest, Texas, and the South as a press aide and member of the advance crew, as well as Director of Transportation for the Texas tour) was an Iowa presidential campaign volunteer for Dick Gephardt (1988) and campaigned for numerous statewide and legislative leaders including working as campaign manager for Missouri House Speaker Bob Griffin. As a writer, he co-authored books on the Carnahan and Holden administrations; published articles for the American College Theatre Journal, the National Association of Women Legislators, the Missouri Association of Counties, and other publications; and authored the memoirs of Missouri Governor Warren Hearnes entitled “Warren Eastman Hearnes: A Memoir” (2007). His final professional position in communications and marketing was Director of Media and College Relations at Westminster College (2005-2019). Rob was also known as a visionary Missouri leader in theatre and especially Jefferson City and had the privilege of pursuing his passion for theatre for seven decades. In his lifetime he performed in over 50 shows and directed 187 productions. As an undergraduate at the University of Missouri, he acted in 18 plays and musicals, including the last production directed by Professor Donovan Rhynsburger for whom the theatre takes its name. As a college sophomore, he persuaded his hometown to allow him to stage an outdoor production of “Barefoot In The Park” at the city tennis courts on a stage made of bridge planks he arranged to borrow from the State Highway Department office. At Mizzou he served as President of the Purple Mask Honorary Drama Society and Chair of the University Film Committee. Today he joins such other Mizzou alumnus as Tom Berenger, Chris Cooper, George C. Scott, and Robert Loggia on the University Theatre Wall of Fame. While teaching in Cameron, he started Cameron Community Players, a local community theatre group which is still performing today, and was one of the founders of the Robidoux Resident Theatre in St. Joseph and directed plays in its first four seasons. After moving to Jefferson City in 1987, Rob began directing a series of musicals and plays for The Little Theatre of Jefferson City in 1989 at the urging of Jack Renner and also served as its Board Executive Director for five years. In 1991 he founded a dinner theatre in Jefferson City known as Capital City Players, which would later greatly expand its theatre programming as Capital City Productions, which is still thriving today. While CCP started as 1-3 productions a year at the local Ramada Inn, Rob, with the support of his wife Chris, was able to take out a second home mortgage to make CCP a year round theatre in its own space. From 2000-2009 CCP also produced Shakespeare in The Park, a free summer production of one of Shakespeare’s plays to benefit the local community. Determined to see Jefferson City students had a performing arts space worthy of their talents, Rob served on every committee from the time of the Etta Miller donation in 1995, working to pass a bond issue for a new theatre twice and finally serving as a member of the advisory committee which guided the renovations that completed the Miller Performing Arts Center in 2005. Committed to fostering the arts both in Jefferson City and statewide, Rob served on the Board of Directors of Missouri Citizens For The Arts, the Missouri State Speech and Theatre Association, and the Capital City Council On The Arts which honored him with an award for his outstanding contributions to the arts in Jefferson City. For many years he was a member of the speech advisory board for the Missouri State High School Activities Association. Rob also served on the Board of Directors of the National Association of Corporate Speechwriters for four years, was named one of America’s 100 Best Speechwriters by Ragan Communications, and won numerous awards and conducted workshops for the National Association of Government Communicators. In 2023 the Jefferson City Arts Foundation honored Rob with its first Golden “Arty” Award for his years of contributions to Jefferson City arts. Rob’s professional acting credits include two summers at the Tarkio Mule Barn Theatre and one summer at the Missouri Summer Repertory Theatre with film star Chris Cooper. His film credits are work as an extra in “Over The Top” starring Sylvester Stallone and “Ride With The Devil” with Tobey McGuire and Jeffrey Wright. Rob was blessed to meet his late wife Chris, herself an accomplished actress, in the University of Missouri theatre program, and they enjoyed a 49-year marriage. He was a member of Grace Episcopal Church of Jefferson City. Rob is survived by: one son, Courtney Crouse of Columbia, Mo.; one sister, Debbie Loucks (Steve) of Mound City, Mo.; two nieces, Lauren Loucks (Amy) and her son, Kyan of Edmond, Okla. and Carly Edwards (Steven) and her sons, Jaxon and Ryan of Mound City, Mo.; one aunt, Janeta Foster of St. Joseph, Mo.; and seven cousins and their families. He was preceded in death by his parents, Bob and Jeane Crouse, and his loving wife, Chris. Visitation will be held at the Freeman Mortuary from 3:00 p.m. until 6:00 p.m., Saturday, October 14, 2023. Funeral services will be conducted at 2:00 p.m., Sunday, October 15, 2023, at Grace Episcopal Church, 217 Adams Street, Jefferson City, MO 65101 with the Reverend Bill Nesbit officiating. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions are suggested to the American Cancer Society or Grace Episcopal Church by mailing all donations to P.O. Box 95, Jefferson City, MO 65102. Funeral arrangements are under the care of Freeman Mortuary. www.freemanmortuary.com