Bob Tebow, longtime missionary and father of Heisman Trophy winner Tim Tebow, dies at 78

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Bob Tebow, father of former Heisman Trophy winner Tim and founder of a mission-based organization that served Southeast Asia, died on Thursday night after a lengthy battle with Parkinson’s disease. Tebow was 78 years old.

Bob Tebow revealed his Parkinson’s diagnosis in 2016 and battled the illness since then. He was the patriarch of one of the area’s most well-known families, and the founder of the Bob Tebow Evangelistic Association that has served in a missionary capacity in the Philippines and across Southeast Asia.

Tim Tebow announced his dad’s passing on social media.

“Heaven ushered in a hero of the faith last night as my Dad was welcomed home! Many will say sorry for your loss but the truth is he’s not lost, we know exactly where he is. He’s home. Forever! I asked him last week what he looked forward to most about Heaven, and he simply said, ‘Jesus.’

“He couldn’t wait to see Jesus face to face. Praise God that his wait is over. Death has been swallowed up in victory. He’s healed and whole now. So we don’t mourn as those with no hope. See you soon Dad!,” he posted.

Bob and his wife, Pam, met at the University of Florida and later began their missionary work in the Philippines after a visit there in 1985. They had five children: Christy, Katie, Robby, Peter and Tim. Bob and Pam homeschooled their children and became passionate advocates of that.

It was Tim, the youngest of the Tebow children, who made their last name a household name. Robby and Peter and later, Tim, played sports at Trinity Christian.

But Tim wanted to be a passing quarterback, something that wasn’t possible in the Wing-T-based offense of Trinity. In a 2003 newsletter sent out from his BTEA, he said that Tim had finally achieved that after he transferred to Nease.

It was at Nease where Tim Tebow, under the coaching of Craig Howard, thrilled football fans and became one of the biggest recruits in area history. Tebow led Nease to the Class 4A state championship in 2005, starred in an ESPN documentary on his final season, and won the state’s Mr. Football award.

Tebow eventually signed with the University of Florida and won two national championships, one as a freshman behind Chris Leak, and the second as a junior in 2008. In between, Tebow became the first sophomore to win the Heisman Trophy.

In the mid-1990s, the Tebows started the Bob Tebow Evangelistic Association to help teach and train Filipino “evangelists across the nation,” according to the organization’s journey statement. The BTEA serves in the Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao regions, and has a mission of placing an evangelist in every province in the country.

Last year, Tim took over the primary work of the BTEA from his parents.