Background
Wilburn, Robert Charles was born on July 1, 1943 in Latrobe, Pennsylvania, United States. Son of Robert Charles and Annabel Grace (McWherter) Wilburn.
Wilburn, Robert Charles was born on July 1, 1943 in Latrobe, Pennsylvania, United States. Son of Robert Charles and Annabel Grace (McWherter) Wilburn.
Bachelor of Science, United States Air Force Academy, 1965. Master of Public Administration, Princeon University, 1967. Doctor of Philosophy, Princeon University, 1970.
Doctor of Laws (honorary), University Scranton, Pennsylvania, 1983. Doctor of Laws (honorary), Hahneman University, 1984. Doctor of Laws (honorary), Duquesne University, 1985.
Prior to this position he was the first president and Chief Executive Officer of the Gettysburg Foundation. He served as president and Chief Executive Officer of the Carnegie Institute in Pittsburgh and as president of Colonial Williamsburg Foundation. Under his leadership, the number of customers, members, donors, and volunteers increased sharply within each organization.
While at the Carnegie Institute, Wilburn also contributed to the founding of the Andy Warhol Museum by negotiating gifts of more than a thousand paintings and drawings from the Warhol and DIA Foundations and by raising funds to secure and renovate a historic, seven-story building in downtown Pittsburgh.
The Warhol Museum is probably the largest museum in the world dedicated to a single artist and may have been the largest gift ever given to a museum at one time, in value. He was the youngest university president in the nation while he was president at Indiana University of Pennsylvania (1976-1978), has had roles with private foundations, Doctor Wilburn served in cabinet positions for Pennsylvania Governor Richard Thornburg, first directing both departments of Budget and Administration and later in the department of Education.
He has held several positions at Chase Manhattan Bank, including executive director of the Asset Liability Management Committee. Prior to that, he held positions in the Defense Department and the White House, working on policy development, most notably the legislation creating the all-volunteer armed forces.
A graduate of the United States Air Force Academy, he earned bachelor’s degrees in Economics and Engineering.
Wilburn also attended Princeton University, where he earned master’s and doctoral degrees in Economics and Public Affairs. Wilburn has earned many accolades. Among the most notable, he was voted Pittsburgh"s Manitoba of the Year in 1992 and Manitoba of the Year for the Arts in 1989.
Further Reading: www.gettysburgfoundation.org.
Trustee Carnegie Mellon University, 1985-1992, Shadyside Hospital, Pittsburgh, 1985-1992. Secretary Allegheny Conference on Community Development, Pittsburgh Captain United States Air Force, 1965-1972. Member American Library Association, American Museum Association (board directors 1989-1992), Urban Libraries Council Chicago (president 1991-1993), World Affairs Council (board directors 1988-1992), Duquesne Club (board directors 1990-1992), Hampton Roads Partnership, since 1996, Pittsburgh Athletic Association.
Married Patricia Ellen Zuidema, May 18, 1968. Children: Jason, Rae, Jesse, Benjamin.