National Geographic cruise ship historian with Tri-Cities roots has died
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- Historian Robert Heacock died July 5, just days before his 68th birthday.
- Heacock authored a 2015 book on Lewis and Clark’s journey on the Snake, Columbia rivers.
- He frequently lectured on National Geographic cruises and explored historic sites.
A respected Eastern Washington historian and author, who entertained National Geographic cruise ship tourists with stories of the Lewis and Clark expedition, has died.
Robert Heacock, a Kamiakin High grad known for his ferocious study of the famous explorers, died July 5, three days short of his 68th birthday.
“Robert feels that simply reading about a subject is often not enough; it is often necessary to see where an event occurred, which has enhanced his local exploration and taken him on eight European trips,” reads his biography for National Geographic cruise boats that navigated the Columbia and Snake rivers.
He also took trips along the Ohio River between St. Louis and Pittsburgh.
“He was always the star of the ship,” said Eric Degerman, president and CEO of Great Northwest Wine, who shares his wine knowledge on National Geographic journeys.
“Robert’s grasp of his research and style of delivery brought the Corps of Discovery to life for anyone with the good fortune of witnessing one of his entertaining presentations,“ he posted on Heacock’s online obituary.
Heacock grew up in the Tri-Cities, graduating from Kamiakin High School in 1975 before attending Columbia Basin College and Washington State University.
He later attended Eastern Washington University to study cost accounting.
He went on to work in insurance claims and investigations in Veradale before moving a short drive’s away to Liberty Lake, east of Spokane.
“In his spare time, Robert was an avid outdoorsman,” read his obituary. “He loved to camp all over the Pacific Northwest and hike on the beautiful trails. He enjoyed boating local lakes and sailing the Puget Sound on wooden boats.”
In 2015, Heacock finished his book, “Wind Hard from the West: The Lewis and Clark Expedition on the Snake and Columbia Rivers.”
He chronicles the daily activities and location descriptions of the famed expedition along the Snake and Columbia rivers, complete with maps and photos both historical and modern.
Heacock was was active in the Knights of Columbus and Sierra Club. He also served as Washington chapter of the Lewis and Clark Trail Heritage Foundation.
He died at home after suffering a pulmonary embolism caused by a heart attack, said his obituary.
He is survived by several family members, including his wife of 41 years Melanie Jane Jones and 10 grandchildren.
This story was originally published July 15, 2025 at 5:00 AM.
