Robert E. Gilka (July 12, 1916 – June 25, 2013) was an American photojournalist best known for being an editor and director of photography at National Geographic for 27 years (1958–1985).
Upon graduation, he published a four-page tabloid sized job description called "The Gilka Graphic", a chronicle of his experience and qualifications, which he sent to several hundred editors around the country.
[4] The job market was still at a depression low and he was hired by the Zanesville, Ohio Signal newspaper as a general reporter, sports editor, and photographer.
Gilka was invited to join the staff of the National Geographic in 1958 and, after a stint as a picture editor, was named director of photography in 1963.
On his office door a sign read "Wipe knees before entering"—next to his desk was a confessional kneeling bench.
[citation needed] He retired from National Geographic in 1985 and served as an adjunct professor of photojournalism at Syracuse University until 1992.