COMMERCE — A.M. “Bob” Aikin III, 65, of Commerce passed away Wednesday, June 13, 2012.

Bob was born July 12, 1946, in Paris, Texas; the only child of of Welma Morphew Aikin and Sen. A.M. Aikin Jr. After splitting time between Paris and Austin, Bob attended his beloved University of Texas at Austin.

 He pursued a career in public service, including jobs at the State Comptroller’s office and the Texas Legislative Budget Board before moving to Commerce in 1973 to serve as the chief state lobbyist for East Texas State University.

In 1974 Bob met and married the love of his life, Debbie Aikin. Their son, Christopher, was born in 1978.

In 1986, Bob was elected to the Texas House of Representatives, serving Hunt, Rains, Wood, and Rockwall counties in the legislature. He received numerous awards for his dedication to public education and advocacy for voting rights. In 1988 Bob moved on to the State Board of Education, serving two terms and continuing his lifelong work to ensure equity in education funding and the opportunity for every student in Texas to have access to a great school.

In 1993 Bob founded The Aikin Group, a financial advisory firm primarily focused on funding for public school facilities in chronically underfunded districts all over Texas. Bob was also a longtime sponsor and advisor to The Equity Center, a statewide coalition of low-wealth school districts organized to advocate for fair funding of schools.

In his local community, Bob was a member of the KETR Broadcast Advisory Board, in addition to contributing to many on-air programs on various topics over the years. Bob also served on the Board of Trustees for the Hunt Regional Healthcare Foundation.

Bob was an activist Democrat who stood up for his Party’s values, no matter the political climate. His service ran the gamut from innumerable local elections to roles in the Texas campaigns of Gov. Ann Richards, Vice President Al Gore, and President Barack Obama. Bob was a former chair of the Hunt County Democratic Party.

Bob cherished his family and made sure to brag on their accomplishments, awards, and successes to anyone and everyone. He was an enormously generous man, gifted with wit, wisdom and an unyielding intellectual curiosity in the ways of the world — and how to make it a better world for all.

Bob is survived by his wife and partner of 38 years, Debbie, and their son, Christopher, and children Robert, Matthew and Tracie.

All friends and family are invited to a Celebration of the Life of Bob Aikin on Sunday, June 17, from 3 to 5 p.m. at the Sam Rayburn Student Center on the campus of Texas A&M-Commerce, 2600 West Neal Street, in Commerce (please park behind the Student Center).

This celebration will be an informal gathering meant to give us all an opportunity to share stories, memories and a toast to Bob’s life.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks well-wishers to give generously to the charity of their choice.