Bob Wilson did not grow up far from the Grand Junction area. He is the treasurer of the board of trustees. As the treasurer, he oversees the overall finances of Colorado Mesa University.
Wilson grew up six miles North of Fruita. He went to Fruita schools and attended Mesa State College for two years.
He then went to Gunnison for two years where he graduated with a public accounting degree.
“After college, I went to work in Denver for a big accounting firm,” Wilson said.
After six years in Denver, he moved back to the Fruita area.
For the past six years, Wilson has been on the CMU board of trustees. He was appointed by the governor, like all board members.
His reason for becoming a trustee was “the chance to make a difference for kids that need a break,” Wilson said. “This school is really really important for a bunch of kids here locally that otherwise might not have a chance to further education after high school. That’s a big deal.”
One of his hopes for the trustees and the school as a whole is to get more students here.
“Attract more students and provide the financial aid with scholarships or work,” Wilson said. He specifically mentioned attracting disabled students.
“This is about you guys,” Wilson said in explaining the whole point of the board.
Besides watching over and helping with the overall finances at CMU, he also owns a ranch in Mac which is the last exit in Fruita. He is trying to raise a wildlife habitat on his ranch.
“There used to be pheasants all over the valley,” Wilson said. “[I’m] trying to get some to come back.”
Wilson grew up on a ranch, where a tractor incident caused him to lose an arm when he was just five years old.
“On that tractor both [a power take off on the side and the back] of the tractor had belts running,” Wilson said. “I fooled around and got tangled up on the one on the back.”
He explained that he was attempting to wipe off the grease on the back power take-off rod with his father’s coat when the incident happened.
“Hey, it’s lucky,” Wilson said. “I might not be here.”
Wilson has lived most of his life with only his left arm but does not think it has impacted much.
“If there’s one thing I might’ve done, it would’ve been to try and be an Air Force pilot,” Wilson explained.
Now, he spends his time on his ranch and playing golf.
“Life has been good,” Wilson said. “I’ve been fortunate.”
