Dr. Robert Bobell, was born in Peoria, Illinois, and graduated from Canton High School. He earned his Associate in Science degree from Spoon River College in 1982, followed by a Bachelor of Science in Biology from Western Illinois University and a Doctor of Optometry degree from the University of Missouri–St. Louis.
For the past 37 years, Dr. Bobell has served as Owner and President of Progressive Vision Center, LTD in Canton, Illinois. Throughout his career and community involvement, he has held numerous leadership roles, including Past President of both the Community Concert Association and the Kiwanis Club of Canton (where he was also named Kiwanian of the Year). He has also served as a member of the Spoon River College Foundation Board, the Canton Park District Board, and the Graham Hospital Board of Trustees (where he was Past Vice Chairperson). Since 2008, he has been a member and Past Board Chair of the Mid-America National Bank Board of Directors. In 2017, he was honored as the Canton Area Chamber of Commerce Businessperson of the Year.
Dr. Bobell considers his greatest professional achievement—outside of his beloved family—to be building his optometric practice from the ground up, which has now grown to include three eye doctors, nine employees, and two locations. His advice to SRC students and employees is simple yet powerful: “Get involved as much as possible at both SRC and in your community. You will receive much more in return than you will ever give.”
Dr. Bobell is married to Carla, and they have two adult sons, Westin and Nathan.
