Colgan Hobson Bryan Jr.

June 3, 1942 - August 24, 2022

Dr. Colgan Hobson Bryan Jr. of Tuscaloosa passed away peacefully on August 24, 2022, surrounded by his family.

Born in Roanoke, Virginia on June 3, 1942, Hobson was the only child of Professor Colgan Hobson Bryan and Sara Turbeville Bryan. He graduated from Tuscaloosa High School and earned a BA degree from Vanderbilt University. Hobson wrote his PhD thesis on rural poverty in the Mississippi Delta, earning his doctorate degree in sociology from Louisiana State University at age 25.

A man of diverse talents, Hobson drove a motorcycle and played drums in a rhythm and blues band before serving as a Lieutenant in the Navy in Vietnam and later at the US Defense Intelligence Agency in Washington D.C. He held various positions in Washington D.C. at the U.S. Economic Research Service (Department of Agriculture) and later with the U.S. Forest Service.

Hobson returned to Tuscaloosa in 1970 to begin a 44-year career as Professor at the University of Alabama. He served two terms as chair of the Department of Sociology and then taught environmental policy and social psychology in the Department of Geography.

Often seen in Birkenstocks and socks, a newspaper article described Hobson as a "mild-mannered professor who led a double life - saving the planet from unannounced destruction then returning to his grade book.’’ In fact, Hobson devoted his life to his two passions: teaching and the outdoors.

In 1979, Hobson published a seminal book on the theory of recreational specialization titled Conflict in the Great Outdoors, earning him global recognition. He enjoyed a reputation within the profession as an innovative scholar making significant contributions across disciplines including public access, water management, ecotourism, and social and environmental impact assessment.

He traveled widely, consulting for key projects such as the Three Gorges Dam (Yangtze River, China) for the International Monetary Fund and Yucca Mountain, the U.S. nuclear waste repository in Nevada. “We’re looking at what the environment does back to us when we do something to it,” Hobson was quoted as saying. “It’s kind of a selfish angle, but it’s a concern that affects everyone.” In 1998, Hobson had the honor of being elected President of the International Association for Impact Assessment (a professional group with members from 110 countries).

When not in the classroom or traveling for his consulting work, Hobson was out on the water. A world-class bass and trout fisherman, he won local and national tournaments and eventually served on the board of the Bass Fishing Hall of Fame. He particularly loved trout fishing in Montana and in New Zealand, where he and his family lived when he was a Senior Fulbright Scholar at Lincoln College in Christchurch. He returned to New Zealand many times over the years where he made and maintained life-long friendships.

An adored and attentive father and grandfather, Hobson was known for his self-deprecating sense of humor and the wisdom he shared including, “If it is to be, it’s up to me,” and, “It’s not what happens, but how you react to what happens.” He always encouraged his children, students and colleagues to build their lives and careers around their passions as he did during his lifetime, reminding his loved ones that, "The greatest challenge is to be the architect of your own life."

Hobson is survived by his wife, Terri Gramling Bryan; his children, Sara Bryan Pasquier of Paris, France and Colgan Hobson Bryan III (Ellen) of Denver, Co; his grandchildren, Flora and Theodore Pasquier; his step-children, Will Nielsen (Victoria) and Ashley Streeter (Ricky); and many cherished cousins. He was predeceased by his parents and his late wife, Karen LaMoreaux Bryan.

On Saturday, November 5, 2022, at 11:00 AM, a Celebration of Life will be held at Christ Episcopal Church of Tuscaloosa, where Hobson was a life-long member.

In lieu of flowers, the family welcomes memorial donations. As Hobson was a supporter of Alabama river systems, gifts to The Black Warrior Riverkeeper or The Nature Conservancy of Alabama would honor him in ways close to his heart. Alternatively, the family appreciates donations to Christ Episcopal Church of Tuscaloosa.