We’ve written stories on Biology Professor Robert Sikes, who graduated from UALR in 1985, for his research on pandas and field research with his students on his family farm in Alleene, Ark., which is turned into a lab of sorts for assessing patterns of litter size and evaluating reproductive models. We’re also aware of Sikes’ hobby as a beekeeper.

But a new one on Sikes came to us last week from Dr. Steve Edison, marketing/advertising professor.

On New Year’s Eve, Edison attended a “car warming” for Sikes to see his ’68 Camaro run for the first time in more than 20 years. The Camaro was his first car 30 years ago. “He not only has that car (and the girlfriend, now wife) from that era, he has completely restored the car to a thing of beauty…learning how to do each stage of the restoration as he progressed,” said Edison. “The real story is that he is a “skill collector (a person who values the learning of new skills in a wide variety of application).” He invents…he converts…he is our MacGyver.”

Thanks Dr. Edison for sharing your “after” pictures, where you can see a shop that Sikes built by himself with lumber from trees in his yard. The two before pics came from Dr. Sikes. Looks like the “apple doesn’t fall far from the tree.” You can see his 15-year-old son’s 1968 Cougar in the background.