Roscoe Hightower Obituary

Dr. Roscoe Hightower, Jr., PhD, 58, passed unexpectedly on Thursday, April 4, 2024. Funeral services are 11:00 a.m. Saturday, April 13, at the Old West Enrichment Center. Burial will be 12 noon Wednesday, April 17, in Griffin Memorial Gardens, Griffin, GA, with McDowell's Funeral Home (770-228-2070), directing. Viewing-visitation is Friday 4-6 p.m. with Omega Psi Phi Memorial Services at 6 p.m. at the Enrichment Center. Roscoe grew up in the South Miami-Dade Community of Goulds, graduating from Miami Southridge Senior High School. An excellent student in Calculus and Trigonometry, he entered FAMU's SBI Program, majoring in Business Administration. He was initiated into Omega Psi Phi Upsilon Psi Chapter in the Fall of 1985. He earned his Bachelor's & Master's degrees and accepted a position with IBM, which failed to fulfill his thirst for knowledge. In 1997, he earned his PhD and was quickly hired by the University of Akron as an Assistant Professor of Marketing. In 2000, he was hired by FAMU in the same position and in 2012, he was promoted to Professor of Marketing. In 2015, he became the Centennial Eminent Scholar Chair & Professor of Marketing & Facility Management, the world's only endowed Chair of this type. His other accomplishments include, but are not limited to, the European Facility Management Association Ambassador to the USA (he was the first person in the U.S. to hold this position). As busy as he was, Roscoe found time to enjoy motorcycles and fine cigars. He is survived by his daughters: Asia Bre'onna Hightower & Jane Rosa Hightower; brother, John Russell (Mariah) Ballard; sister, Cynthia Hightower Hammett; niece, Emily Jane Hammett; aunt, Mary Hightower; godmother, Barbara Aranha Anders; special friend, Mechilco Young; and a host of family, friends, mentees, colleagues and students.
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