30 September 1999 Bob Meyer ('54)

I retired in 1993, having spent my last fifteen years as a business consultant, working with investment groups and venture capital firms revitalizing or redirecting floundering companies. Before that, I spent two years in the Marine Corps; four years in commercial radio; nine years in aerospace; nine years in industrial equipment for mineral processing, water purification and air pollution; and then I began the business consulting activity, mostly as president and CEO of companies. Most of it was pretty exciting, involving technical understanding, marketing of products, manufacturing technology, and financial management. Products included food machinery (industrial potato peelers, tomato peelers, handling equipment) ; custom gate-arrays; farm-raised abalone; tractor rental; custom job shop; motorcycle muffler manufacturer; specialized rotary solenoids and children's health products.

When I was at VU I majored in physics and took the only astronomy course that was offered. The course work in physics gave me a broad background and an understanding of why and how things work, an ability to analyze and understand complex problems and an inquisitive approach to information gathering before deciding on a course of action. I especially remember a complex problem in one of my physics courses, that took about 15 or so pages of paper to solve. This of course was slide rule times without the benefit of even a TI calculator, so looking back, it would probably be considered cruel and unusual punishment these days.

Have a great Homecoming, and best regards,

Bob Meyer