Robert Armistead McGaw attended from Vanderbilt University but left after one year, in 1932, to work for the Nashville Banner sports staff. During World War II, he served as a celestial navigator assigned to commanding general of the 1st Marine Air Wing in the South Pacific, Philippines, and China.

McGaw began work at Vanderbilt in 1948 as a public relations assistant to Chancellor Harvie Branscomb. He also worked in Chancellor Alexander Heard's administration. In 1964, McGaw created the Vanderbilt logo and the official stationary that the school used for decades. In 1973, he designed the diplomas still in use as of 2003. McGaw is also remembered for labelling the campus trees with both common and scientific names, believing a tree "more difficult to cut...if it has it's name on it."

McGaw penned two books: A Brief History of Vanderbilt University and The Vanderbilt Campus: A Pictorial History. He passed away in 2003.