Pharmacist, Veteran, and Family Man
Bob Nash was one of the College of Pharmacy’s first students, graduating as the first person with Indigenous heritage as a pharmacist from the U with the inaugural class in 1950. He was born on the Winnebago Reservation in Nebraska in 1922 and later moved to Roosevelt, Utah, for high school. Bob attended Utah State University to study agriculture for two years and, in the fall of 1942, he was drafted for service in World War II. He worked primarily in administration and stayed on with the service through 1946 processing paperwork for soldiers going home.
After returning home from the war, Bob quickly realized that he needed to pursue a degree and career path that offered more significant work opportunities. During a visit to the Salt Lake City Veterans Affairs Office, Bob saw a pamphlet about the University of Utah launching a pharmacy program and decided that he would go to pharmacy school using his GI Bill benefits.
When Bob enrolled at the College of Pharmacy, he decided he would take advantage of every available opportunity and experience. He was a member of the Newman Club and attended every school activity. He even attended the traditional tea party hosted by U President A. Ray Olpin and his wife at their home for members of each year’s graduating class and their families.
After graduating, Bob served an internship with Holy Cross Hospital. After finishing, he decided to pursue a career in California, because he had heard that pharmacists were in high demand there and could earn a higher wage than in Utah. He drove to California to take the pharmacy exam with three other U graduates, Lind Barrant, Dale Dickson and Boyd Bentley (pictured below).
While having lunch before the test, Bob bet his classmates that he could get a job on his first try. His classmates balked, so he stood up from the café table and walked to the pharmacy across the street and asked the owner for a job—before even passing his pharmacy test. He walked back to the café with a job ‘in hand.’
Bob returned to Utah to prepare to move to California for his new career as a pharmacist. During this short trip, he went to an event at the Scanlon Club and met his future wife, Lorraine O’Block, who was enjoying a night out with her friends. The two had a fast courtship and she moved to California where they wed in May 1951. They were married for 71 years, until Lorraine passed away at the age of 100 in 2022.
Bob worked at the drug store for seven years and then took a position at Boltons Bella Vista drug store in Pittsburg, CA, and then at Contra Costa County, where he stayed for 25 years, retiring at the age of 60. Bob and Lorraine had four children, six grandchildren and eight great grandchildren.
Education was an important part of Bob’s life, and he instilled its value in his children and grandchildren. He frequently spoke about his time at the University of Utah and how much he enjoyed pharmacy school and making life-long friendships.
In the fall of 2024, the College of Pharmacy received a gift from Bob’s brother, Don Nash. Don also attended the U of U College of Pharmacy, graduating in the third pharmacy class in 1953. Don sent his gift in honor of his brother’s education and position in the inaugural pharmacy graduating class.
The team at the College of Pharmacy was delighted by this thoughtful gesture. Eager to learn more about Bob’s and Don’s lives and connection to the college, the team arranged an interview with the brothers during a trip to California in October 2024. Despite his declining health, Bob was excited to participate in the interview and share his College of Pharmacy story.
We are grateful and honored to have captured Bob’s and Don’s memories and experiences on video before Bob passed on January 16, 2025, at the age of 102. We hope you enjoy hearing their stories as much as we do.
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The University of Utah College of Pharmacy values hearing and sharing alumni stories. Please email Laura Thomas to share your story and get involved.