Bobby Witcher facts for kids

Bobby Witcher (born in 1916, died in 1966) was an American expert on reptiles and amphibians, known as a herpetologist. He was famous for how calmly he handled even dangerous, venomous snakes.

Bobby's Life and Passion

Bobby Witcher was born in Sweetwater, Texas, in 1916. People loved him for his amazing excitement about reptiles (like snakes and lizards) and amphibians (like frogs and salamanders).

Bobby spent many years exploring and collecting animals in nature. He loved sharing what he knew about herpetology, which is the study of reptiles and amphibians. Even though he never wrote and published his own articles, many of his cool discoveries and observations were shared in the books and papers of other scientists. Sadly, Bobby passed away in 1966. He died from a bite from a type of venomous snake called a cottonmouth in the swamps of the Mingo National Wildlife Refuge in southeastern Missouri.

Bobby's Lasting Impact

Bobby Witcher's memory lives on through several important things.

The Bobby Witcher Society

The Bobby Witcher Society was created to honor him. This group has chapters all over the United States. It was started by two doctors, Metter and Carl Gerhardt, with help from Paul Brown.

Scholarships and Collections

A special award, the Bobby Witcher Memorial Scholarship, was also set up. This scholarship helps students who are studying reptiles and amphibians. After Dr. Metter passed away in 2001, this scholarship became known as the Dean E. Metter Memorial Award. It is now managed by a group called the Society for the Study of Amphibians and Reptiles.

Another one of Dr. Metter's students, Dr. Robert Powell, also honored Bobby. He named the collection of reptiles and amphibians at Avila University in Kansas City the Bobby Witcher Memorial Collection.

Named in His Honor

Even a tiny living thing was named after Bobby! A small parasite, Eimeria witcheri, which lives inside a type of worm lizard called Amphisbaena manni, was named to remember Bobby.

Bobby Witcher's passion and knowledge have inspired many people who study reptiles and amphibians today. His scholarship has helped many students follow their dreams in this field.