Robert “Bob” Francis Vlasics of Huntsville died on April 8. He was 80 years old. A native of Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, he graduated in 1965 as the distinguished military graduate from the University of Toledo and was commissioned as a lieutenant out of ROTC. Following his 1967 first tour of Vietnam as a unit maintenance officer, he attended the transportation officers advanced course at Fort Eustis, Virginia, followed by flight school at Fort Stewart, Georgia and Fort Rucker.
He returned to Vietnam in 1971 as a captain assigned to the 101st Airborne Division as an aviation supply officer, flying support missions in UH-1 Huey helicopters. He became the headquarters company commander, and received the Bronze Star, two Air Medals and the Meritorious Unit Commendation for his service in Vietnam. He later worked at the Pentagon.
During his years in the Army, Vlasics commanded four companies, two in Vietnam, one in Germany, and one in Savannah, Georgia. He also led a battalion in Korea. He medically retired after serving as the division G-4 (logistics) officer at the 3rd Infantry Division in Germany from 1984-86.
He worked for six years with Textron Lycoming, an engine manufacturer, and later ran his own company, Aerospace Dynamics, for 29 years until his full retirement in February 2021.
A member of the Army Aviation Association of America (AAAA) for 54 years, he founded the Vlasics Classic, an annual bass fishing tournament that will carry on in his name. He was also a voracious animal lover and a master gardener.
He is survived by his wife Katherine “Jeanne” Vlasics.
The date for a memorial in Huntsville will be announced at a later date. Burial is planned for Arlington National Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests expressions of sympathy take the form of donations to New Leash on Life.
