USHER-ROBERT

MAJOR  LEAGUE  PLAYER  TO  NIS  SPECIAL  AGENT

Robert Royce Usher was born March 1, 1925, in San Diego, California, and died in San Jose, California, on December 29, 2014.  In high school Usher became an excellent baseball player and in 1941 pitched for the San Diego Post American Legion team that won the national crown.  Following graduation from San Jose State University in California he played in the minor leagues for Birmingham of the Southern Association until his baseball career was interrupted by entry into the Navy in 1943.  While on active duty he continued to play baseball while assigned to Naval Air Station, Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii.  Following release in 1946 from active duty he resumed his MLB career, signing with the Cincinnati Reds where he played center field in 1946, 1947, 1950, and 1951.  He also played for the Chicago Cubs in 1952, the Cleveland Indians in 1957, and the Washington Senators during the 1957 seasons. 

In May 1962, Usher became a Special Agent of the Naval Investigative Service in San Diego where he remained until 1972.  He was then employed as a security officer for the U.S. Geologic Survey in Menlo Park, California.  He lived in the San Jose area for the remainder of his life and was active in the Coast Guard Auxiliary in the San Francisco Bay area, rising to the rank of Vice-Commodore.  He was survived by his wife, four children, nine grandchildren, and five great-grandchildren.

Submitted by CDR Roy A. Mosteller, USNR (Ret)