Robert Cherry was born in 1914, attended Sam Houston State University for his bachelor's degree in business administration, the University of Wyoming for his master's in educational administration and commerce, and North Carolina State College for his doctorate.

Robert G. Cherry first joined the Texas A&M University System in 1943, as an assistant registrar, later moving on to become a member of the Department of Agricultural Economics and Sociology. He was appointed extension economist in 1956, and in 1959 went to Europe to study agricultural markets for the U.S. Department of Agriculture. He was appointed an assistant to President James Earl Rudder in 1962, and began working in 1975 as an assistant to the Chancellor, and also was appointed the secretary of the Board of Regents during this time. He was known as "Mr. Texas A&M," and served as the main lobbyist for the University's interests in Austin with the state government. He was later promoted to Vice-Chancellor, and retired in 1984 to part-time, retiring fully in 1989.

He never married, but due to his interests in education, Cherry was known for his annual donations to the Agricultural Economics department for scholarships for students and was a benefactor for the Girl Scouts of America and to the Bryan Independent School District.

Robert Cherry died in 2005, at St. Joseph Rehabilitation Center, at the age of 91.