On May 8 in front of an audience of 150 people at the University of Vermont Davis Center, Tom Vogelmann, dean of the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences (CALS), told the story of a young man who claimed he wasn’t cut out for UVM’s pre-vet program, because he said, “during freshman year I mangled dogfish and (earned) inadequate grades.” He graduated instead in animal and dairy husbandry, worked for a big company for 25 years, launched his own businesses — twice — and then gave it all back to his employees, his community, his family. It is the story of Robert Willey of Essex Junction, who was on hand to receive the College’s outstanding alumnus award, nominated by his colleagues and friends. Robert Willey distinguished himself at UVM through the Charles H. Hood Dairy Foundation Certificate, Ethan Allen Rifles Honor Society and Army ROTC program, before he graduated in 1954. He served as a second lieutenant in the Army for two years. He worked for the well-known computer company, Burroughs Corporation until 1980, when Willey and three fellow Burroughs employees formed a software company to serve the banking industry. Bob’s son Giles Willey joined the company after graduating from UVM in 1981. In 1985, Bob and Giles formed their own company, Vermont Systems Inc., which has become an international leader in software, especially in the parks and recreation market. Friends have called the company a perfect match for the sports-loving Willey family. Today eight family members are part of the 87-person company. Bob and his wife, Sandy Willey, have supported University of Vermont initiatives for more than 35 years, especially the Hardacre Equine Center and the CREAM Program Endowment Fund. Several Willey family members are UVM alums including Bob’s parents Alma Tyler Willey ’27 and Giles A. Willey '28. Bob received many awards over the years, including two in 2008: recognition for 50 years of service to parks and recreation from the Essex Junction Recreation and Parks and the prestigious Theresa S. Brungardt Award from the Vermont Recreation and Parks Association. Meanwhile, Bob was always active in town government and boards, the Lions Club and especially through the Vermont and National Senior Olympics. For more than a decade he organized, managed and plays on Senior Olympic Basketball teams and tournaments for Vermont. Giles says he loves to watch younger men take on his dad in a game of hoops and take it easy on him until they realize he is a formidable foe. Similarly, Rutland Recreation Director Cindy Wight summed up how others see Bob: “As a very impressionable young 32 year old, I thought to myself, I want to be as active and dedicated as Bob when I’m in my mid-60s. Now that I’m in my early 40s and Bob is in his mid-70s, I have just added 10+ years to my goals!” In 1999, Bob transferred the ownership of Vermont Systems from the original stockholders to its employees. Says Giles, “it was one of the most selfless acts that I have seen in the business world and illustrated what makes my father tick. I have learned valuable life lessons in both my personal life and my business life. Done right, there really isn’t a major distinction between the two.” CAPTION: UVM College of Agriculture and Life Sciences Dean Tom Vogelmann presented Robert Willey ’54, of Essex Junction, the College’s outstanding alumnus award on May 8 at the Davis Center on campus. ~Todd Pritchard photo.