About Dr. Rob

Thanks for wanting to know more.

Other pages on this site speak about me professionally (download bio) and my autobiographical book contains a lot about my challenges, the lessons I learned and activities you can practice to save you time and pain. But this is a place for a little personal history.

Born in Beaumont, Texas in 1948, I was bred to be a UT Longhorn (that’s my Dad and I on my first birthday). I grew up through high school (senior picture to the left) in St. Albans, West Virginia (Go Red Dragons!). True to form, I spent 10 years at The University of Texas at Austin (Hook’em Horns!) where I received a BA in computer science and psychology and a PhD in educational psychology. I was President of AΦO, the national service fraternity, and received an Outstanding Student Award – both of which I am very proud.

After teaching a few years at various Texas universities I moved to Houston in 1980 to establish a private practice as a counseling psychologist. That evolved into co-founding Resource International, a leadership training and coaching firm with my best friend Stephen Haslam, and later to co-founding OH! Educational Services, which provides character education programs for school and home, again with Stephen and another good friend Dot Woodfin.

Along the way I was married twice, 1st time divorced after 7 years and the second widowed after 30 years. The last two chapters in my book discuss the love we shared and the lessons I learned. I have three step-daughters and five grandchildren all of whom I love very much.

I have been very fortunate to have my amazing parents, Bob and Frances, living with me, which allowed us many opportunities to care for each other. To the left is our last Pennington family reunion picture (there were about 30 other relatives there, too) with my parents before my father passed away, my sister Ann and her family, my wife Clair before she passed away and our children Lucy and Mary and their families. This recent picture is of me and my youngest grandson, Charlie Bob from 8 years ago!

I’ve spent 50 years being curious about how thoughts affect emotions, which in turn influence behavior and produce results, either effective or ineffective. I have explored the twists and turns of this mystery through many years of studying psychology, comparative religion, even Egyptology to find those common threads of truth that have existed throughout time. Many years ago I selected as my business logo, The Chartres Labyrinth, to help remind me to stay focused on this journey of discovery. I’m happy to share what I’ve learned to help you make your path smoother, easier and more effective.

Over the years I have been fortunate to receive a number of awards and recognitions. I received the highest trainer evaluations each year from ExxonMobil employees for 34 years for my multi-day programs Successfully Managing the Stress of Change and Successful Work Relationships.  My autobiographical self-help book, “Find the Upside of the DownTimes: How to Turn Your Worst
Experiences into your Best Opportunities!”, won the Pinnacle award for best self-help, 2 USA Best Book Awards for self-help and best non-fiction, Communication Magazine’s Book of the Month and #1 on the list of books Every Man 25 or Older Needs to Read.

I produced and hosted of my own TV show in the 80s on Houston’s municipal channel, received Mental Health America’s Outstanding Speaker Award four times, was honored with the Maestro of Teaching Award from the Universidad de Guadalajara when I taught their faculty, and was one of Meeting Professionals International’s original Platinum Presenters. I have twice been President of the Houston Chapter of the National Speakers Association and was honored to receive their first “Pennington Award of Excellence for Extraordinary and Selfless Service”, which is given annually to the Chapter Member of the Year.