Professor of Political Science, Former UH Provost, Robert L. Lineberry Passes Away

Robert L. Lineberry, professor of political science and former provost at the University of Houston (UH), died on December 5, 2012 after a brief illness. He was 70.

“Bob was well-known to many at the University of Houston from his years as provost and through his dedicated service on countless committees,” said Susan Scarrow, chair of the department of political science in the College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences. “Bob was a devoted teacher, a well-known scholar, a good colleague and a good friend to many.”

Dr. Lineberry joined UH in 1988, moving from the University of Kansas to assume the position of senior vice president for academic affairs and provost at UH. After his term as provost, he became a full-time member of the department of political science, where he taught courses in policy and American government at both the undergraduate and graduate level and mentored many dissertations.

He served for 18 years as an editor of the interdisciplinary social science journal, Social Science Quarterly, ably assisted in this job by his wife, Nita Lineberry. He completed his doctoral work at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 1969 and bachelor’s degree from the University of Oklahoma in 1964.

Dr. Lineberry’s career included teaching taught at Northwestern University and serving as the dean of the College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences at the University of Kansas from 1981-1988.

Dr. Lineberry was a specialist in urban politics and public policy whose many publications included, “The New Urban Politics,” (with Louis Massotti), “Crime in City Politics,” (with Anne Heinz and Herbert Jacob), and multiple editions of “Government in America: People, Politics, and Policy” (with George Edwards III and Martin Wattenberg).

He was an avid reader and world traveler who loved a good conversation about world events, art and literature. He guest lectured at many American, European and Chinese universities. He and Mrs. Lineberry visited over fifty nations and had a special affection for France, Spain and the city of London.

Dr. Lineberry is survived by his wife, two children and three grandchildren. Services are pending.

- University of Houston Media Relations