Citizen of the Years

Award recognizes Billings' longtime commitment to community

Another ball is bouncing Bob Billings’ way with his selection as Citizen of the Years for a lifetime of commitment to the Lawrence community.

Billings, who played basketball for Kansas University in the late 1950s, was selected to receive the 2002 award by the Lawrence Chamber of Commerce.

“I’ve always applauded recipients in the past,” he said. “It’s nice company.”

He’s now in the same realm as Nancy Hambleton, Jim Schubert, Julie and Al Hack, Art Wolf, Jessie Branson, Olin Petefish, Warren Rhodes, Jim Owens, Charles Stough, Emily Taylor and others who have won the award since it was created in 1984.

“It’s nice of them to recognize some of the old timers from time to time,” Billings said. “I want to express appreciation to all the people around me who have made me look successful. Most of the work was done by others.”

Billings has been keenly interested in Lawrence’s development since arriving in 1955 to attend KU. While a student, he was student body president, Phi Beta Kappa and a guard on a KU basketball team that featured Wilt Chamberlain. He majored in economics, business and political science areas that served him well in life.

After working as KU’s student financial aid director for 10 years, he joined John McGrew in a real estate development business and has been involved in the development of Alvamar, Parkmar, Orchards, Oread West Research Park and The Reserve.

He’s served or is serving on the Lawrence Memorial Hospital Board, LMH Endowment Association Board, the Lawrence United Way drive, and the Villages and Penn House boards. At KU, he’s been with the Athletic Association board, Alumni Association board and Endowment Association board of trustees.

In addition, he’s worked on the boards of Leadership Lawrence and the Lawrence Chamber of Commerce.

“The Lawrence Chamber is to be commended for the positive role it’s played in the community,” Billings said in an interview from Palm Springs, Calif. “The weather is nice out here in the winter, but what makes Lawrence nice is the people.”

Billings, who is married to the former Beverly Smith of McPherson, said it was his hope that he would be blessed with many more good years of service in Lawrence.

“When you get to be 65, you’ve got to say that the majority of your years are behind you,” he said. “But I can’t think of a better place than Lawrence … to give of myself to.”

He expects the next 10 to 20 years to be a special time in Lawrence.

“The next 10 years will be the best years in the history of Lawrence,” he said. “And the next 10 will be better than that. The base we have is tremendously greater than it was 20 years ago.”