2025 Luminary Series – Bob Addis
NSS 9958 RL, FE, CO. Bob Addis was born and raised in Cobleskill, in the heart of the cave country of upstate New York. He spent as much time outside as possible and ultimately became an Eagle Scout. His first cave was Howe Caverns, and his father was good friends with Arthur Van Voris, an author of several local cave publications. Arthur befriend Bob and give him a copy of Celebrated American Caverns by Horace Hovey. The stage was set.
In the 1960s, Bob was invited on a trip to Ball’s Cave (now part of the James Gage Karst Preserve). At the end of the day, he was scratched, bruised, exhausted and thought this was the worst thing he had ever done.” He drifted off to sleep wondering about the cave, where the water went, and if he could explore more. The next day, he woke up a caver.
Bob had an earth science teacher in high school that was interested in caves, and they taught themselves horizontal and vertical caving techniques from rock climbing books. They started with cable ladders with a belay, hot seat rappels, then on to double brake bars, knots and Jumars. Wet suits soon followed. Then it was off to college and cars, outing clubs, grottos, regional meetings and trips to the holey land, West Virginia.
In 1963, Bob got a summer job as a cave guide at Howe Caverns. It paid $10’s plus tips for an 8-hour day, discounts at the snack bar, and a chance to meet young ladies working there. Bob went on to study civil engineering at RPI in Troy, New York. Returning in the summer back to Howe Caverns with newly acquired surveying skills, he was asked to help map the cave. They extended the map from the 1930s to include lighting and trails and many areas that weren’t on the trail.
After college, Bob was drafted and served in Vietnam as a Navy Seabee in a construction battalion. After being discharged in California, he joined the Southern California Grotto and met Bob Liebman. Bob attended the 1971 NSS Convention in Blacksburg with Liebman and ended up as the manager of Lost World Caverns in West Virginia. Bob Liebman was assistant manager. The owner of the cave talked Bob Addis into building a “tree house” on the War Club Stalagmite in the cave, where Bob spent the next 15 days setting a world record for stalagmite siting.
In 1972, Bob drove with Bob Liebman to the 1972 NSS Convention in White Salmon. On the way back, they started buying Justrite carbide lamps as they heard they were no longer being made. They came up with the idea of forming a business of B & B Enterprises to get better discounts on gear and headed off to the Old Timers Reunion as one of the first speleovendors. They printed up T-shirts and had lamp parts to sell. Bob later sold his interest in Bob & Bob to Liebman to pursue opportunities in engineering in South Africa. He returned to Upstate New York for an MBA and formed the Northeastern Cave Conservancy. He ultimately ended up in West Virginia, working in the oil fields for Pennzoil. Bob also served on the NSS Board of Governors at the same time as Bob Liebman and have been lifelong friends until Bob’s passing in 2017.
In 1985, for fun, Bob spread the word for a Doo Dah Parade at the Old Timers Reunion, which continues as an institution to this day.
The Northeastern Cave Conservancy has gone on to own 12 preserves, has two liaisons with state agencies, has eighteen committees and has been in existence for 47 years.
As Bob says. “it’s been a good ride.”
