Robert Tullock, a professor emeritus and former chair of the Department of Plant and Soil Science, died on July 10 in Decatur, Ga.
He was 85.
A Central California native, Tullock graduated from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo and earned his doctorate in soil chemistry at Purdue University in 1972. After completing his postdocs, he was hired in 1976 at Cal Poly Pomona, where he taught soil science and other courses.
Tullock served as department chair from 1980 to 1984. From 1984 to 1987, he was the team leader and chief of party for the Horticulture Improvement and Training Subproject in the Yemen Arab Republic.
He was coordinator for the master’s program in agricultural science and was active in the American Society of Agronomy and the Social Science Society of America. Tullock also participated with the Center of Regenerative Studies.
Outside of Cal Poly Pomona, he also worked part-time at Disneyland driving the Clydesdales on the horse-drawn streetcars on Main Street, USA.
Tullock gained emeritus status in 1998 and entered the Faculty Early Retirement Program.
He spent most of his time at his retirement home in Paso Robles, but moved to Georgia in 2025 to be closer to his daughters and grandchildren.
He is survived by his wife, Janet, their three daughters and seven grandchildren.
A celebration of life is planned for Friday, Oct. 2, 2026, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Estrella Warbirds Museum, Thomson Hall, 4251 Dry Creek Road, Paso Robles.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests any memorial contributions be considered for the Templeton Historical Museum Society, the Paso Robles Area Historical Society, the Estrella Warbirds Museum, or the Paso Robles Pioneer Museum.
The Paso Robles Daily News contributed to this story.
