Bob Cox, otherwise known by many internet-based NU football followers as Far East Wildcat (FEW), passed away unexpectedly last night at his home.
Bob was a fixture in the early message boards of the late 90's and the new millennium, eventually leading him to compose a humorous and eclectic website dedicated to all things Northwestern Football known as FarEastWildcat-dot-com. His passion for the website and unflagging support of NU football over the years was unparalleled among the myriad NU football supporters that I've known and have met over the last 30 years of my lifetime, which are numerous to say the least. One well-known section of the FarEastWildcat website was a fledgling message board that entertained many elder statesmen of the current Rivals message board and which gave them a vehicle to share both information and deep thoughts/opinions on all subjects related to NU football among its readership. This message board was where I first encountered Bob, when I added my thoughts within a thread explaining what was happening in a particular set of plays in some long-ago game. It was at that time that Bob and I struck-up a instant friendship and have been fast friends ever since. Bob enticed me to write my perspectives regarding individual NU football games and particular sets of plays that became the root of my commentary additions to the FEW website. When NU football dragged itself out from the abyss known as the Dark Ages, the FEW website was front & center as an internet bastion of information that both celebrated and castigated NU football foibles of all types. Interest in the FEW website grew exponentially over the years and as the NU football program earned bids to post-season bowl games in the late 90's and 2000's, that circumstance led Bob to organize a series of pre-bowl game get-togethers of the Wildcat Faithful that became an increasingly important staple of the NU bowl game experience (like the Alamo Bowl's Wildcat Round-up dinner party in 2000 that drew several hundred NU football boosters & patrons of all ages & eras). This pre-game party organization effort eventually became the foundation for FlaAlum's Purple Party get-togethers of the last dozen (or more) years that NU fans now flock-to as the ultimate "can't miss" pre-bowl game event - the widespread attraction for which was fully evident in its most recent incarnation, last weekend's pre-B1G Conference Championship game party.
The FEW website drew interest from several intrepid webmasters and NU football information authors, among whom was Larry LaTourette, who became one of the founding fathers of what would be known as the FEW Group, a cartel of avid NU fans within which I was an active member for many years. As the years progressed, Bob passed the FEW website torch to Larry who carried on Bob's passionate interest for NU football in his own internet creation - the HailToPurple-dot-com website, which is very alive and well read today. Among the many HailToPurple website sections and featured articles was a very humorous and entertaining opinion section known as Cat Nips, which featured real-time video of Larry & Bob giving their opinions on recent NU games and, of course, their current potable beverage selection which was themed to the current game-of-the-week commentary. I could go on and on relating anecdotes detailing the many facets of the Bob Cox personality cube, but I'll stop here to address my grief upon losing this one-of-a-kind individual.
Of my dear friend, I will say this... My life was substantially touched and enhanced by Bob's engaging personality in so many positive ways which, at this time, are so very difficult to relate or describe accurately. Suffice it to say, that his companionship will have a special place among my treasured thoughts and memories that I will carry to my very last day upon this earth.
Bob, you will be and are missed greatly.
Bob was a fixture in the early message boards of the late 90's and the new millennium, eventually leading him to compose a humorous and eclectic website dedicated to all things Northwestern Football known as FarEastWildcat-dot-com. His passion for the website and unflagging support of NU football over the years was unparalleled among the myriad NU football supporters that I've known and have met over the last 30 years of my lifetime, which are numerous to say the least. One well-known section of the FarEastWildcat website was a fledgling message board that entertained many elder statesmen of the current Rivals message board and which gave them a vehicle to share both information and deep thoughts/opinions on all subjects related to NU football among its readership. This message board was where I first encountered Bob, when I added my thoughts within a thread explaining what was happening in a particular set of plays in some long-ago game. It was at that time that Bob and I struck-up a instant friendship and have been fast friends ever since. Bob enticed me to write my perspectives regarding individual NU football games and particular sets of plays that became the root of my commentary additions to the FEW website. When NU football dragged itself out from the abyss known as the Dark Ages, the FEW website was front & center as an internet bastion of information that both celebrated and castigated NU football foibles of all types. Interest in the FEW website grew exponentially over the years and as the NU football program earned bids to post-season bowl games in the late 90's and 2000's, that circumstance led Bob to organize a series of pre-bowl game get-togethers of the Wildcat Faithful that became an increasingly important staple of the NU bowl game experience (like the Alamo Bowl's Wildcat Round-up dinner party in 2000 that drew several hundred NU football boosters & patrons of all ages & eras). This pre-game party organization effort eventually became the foundation for FlaAlum's Purple Party get-togethers of the last dozen (or more) years that NU fans now flock-to as the ultimate "can't miss" pre-bowl game event - the widespread attraction for which was fully evident in its most recent incarnation, last weekend's pre-B1G Conference Championship game party.
The FEW website drew interest from several intrepid webmasters and NU football information authors, among whom was Larry LaTourette, who became one of the founding fathers of what would be known as the FEW Group, a cartel of avid NU fans within which I was an active member for many years. As the years progressed, Bob passed the FEW website torch to Larry who carried on Bob's passionate interest for NU football in his own internet creation - the HailToPurple-dot-com website, which is very alive and well read today. Among the many HailToPurple website sections and featured articles was a very humorous and entertaining opinion section known as Cat Nips, which featured real-time video of Larry & Bob giving their opinions on recent NU games and, of course, their current potable beverage selection which was themed to the current game-of-the-week commentary. I could go on and on relating anecdotes detailing the many facets of the Bob Cox personality cube, but I'll stop here to address my grief upon losing this one-of-a-kind individual.
Of my dear friend, I will say this... My life was substantially touched and enhanced by Bob's engaging personality in so many positive ways which, at this time, are so very difficult to relate or describe accurately. Suffice it to say, that his companionship will have a special place among my treasured thoughts and memories that I will carry to my very last day upon this earth.
Bob, you will be and are missed greatly.
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