Robert (Bob) Jorgensen guided an athletic program from infancy to maturity during his 28- year reign as department head and director of athletics at Mohawk Valley Community College.

Between 1963 and 1991, the MVCC athletic program grew from five to 21 sports (12 men's and nine women's teams), making it one of the most extensive and diverse junior college intercollegiate athletic programs in the Northeast.

Jorgensen graduated from Union Springs High School in 1950. He obtained his B.S. degree in health and physical education from Cortland State in 1954, and earned his master's degree from Washington State College in 1955. He served in the U.S. Marine Corps from 1956-59.

He then spent one year as a physical education instructor, director of intramurals and assistant lacrosse coach at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in Troy.

Jorgensen came to MVCC as a physical education instructor in 1960. Three years later, he was named professor of physical education and department head. Following his appointment as athletic director, he continued to coach cross-country, men's soccer, baseball and men's golf.

As golf coach from 1965 to 1988, he posted a record of 400 wins, 93 losses and five ties. The Hawks won seven Region III championships and were regional runners-up seven limes during those years. He retired in 1991.

Jorgensen also contributed to the growth of competitive golfing the Mohawk Valley. He was co-founder of the Mohawk Valley Region Junior Golf Tournaments, and served as director of the Bucky Weaver Tournament, the Bob Curtis Tournament and the Central New York Association for the Blind Tournament.

His contributions have been widely acknowledged through his induction into three halls of fame, the SUNY Wildcat, Mohawk Valley Community College, and National Junior College Athletic Association.

He is a past president of the Skenandoa Golf Club and past president of the Kiwanis Club of New Hartford.