Bob Oliver
Blacksburg Rotary Club

Bob Oliver was president of our Rotary club during 1982-1983 and was a charter member.

Bob was born in Bluefield, WV and moved to Roanoke in the second grade.  He grew up in Roanoke and graduated from William Fleming High School in 1953.  He has a wife, Jo, and they have two daughters.

Bob graduated from Virginia Tech in 1957 in structural engineering.  He was in the Corps of Cadets and took a commission in the Army Field Artillery after college.  He was on active duty for 6 months and in reserves for 21 years.

He worked for McDonnell Douglas Aircraft Corp. in St. Louis for 3 years and for Hayes Seay Mattern & Mattern Inc. in Roanoke for 12 years.  In 1972 he returned to Blacksburg and began a partnership with two men, Mills and Obenchain, in a company today called Oliver, Webb, Pappas, and Rhudy.  The company now goes by the name of OWPR and is involved with many phases of engineering: electrical, civil, structural, and mechanical as well as architecture.  Bob retired in 2005.

During Bob’s tenure as president, there was a major effort to build the club membership.  During that time, membership grew from 35-40 to about 70.   Bob has 29 years of perfect attendance. 

Oliver said, “Personally, I have been interested in the Polio Plus Program.  I grew up in an era when polio was rampant.  I have always strived to contribute to the betterment of mankind, both nationally and internationally."

“My parents were always community minded.  I am a member of the Blacksburg United Methodist Church.” 

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