Robert Henry Willis

Background

Willis, Robert Henry was born on June 8, 1921 in Newport, Rhode Island, United States. Son of Henry H. and Edith S. (Shackelton) Willis.

Education

Bachelor of Science cum laude, Northeastern University, 1943. Doctor of Science, Northeastern University, 1984.

Career

Production engineer Fall River Gas Works Company, 1939-1943. Engineer Ohio Gas Company, Bryan, 1947-1949. Senior gas engineer, operating sponsor Stone & Webster Management Consultant, New York City, 1949-1953, finance consultant, assistant to president, vice president, 1957-1959.

Vice president Stone & Webster, Inc., 1959-1964. Executive vice president, general manager, director Lake Shore Pipe Line Company and Lake Shore Gas Company, Ashtabula, Ohio, 1953-1957. Chairman, president, chief executive officer, director Connecticut Natural Gas.

Corporation, Hartford, 1964-1983, chairman, since 1983. Officer, director (subsidiary) Affiliated Resources Corporation, Hartford Steam Company, Fuels, Inc. (CNG realty corporation), Databeam.

Board directors Connecticut Bank and Trust Company, Connecticut MutualLife Insurance Company, Kaman Corporation, National Commission on Cooperative Education, National Energy Foundation. Member executive committee International Gas Union Bureau, 1982-1985. President Jamaica Public Service Ltd., Montreal, Quebec, Canada, 1961-1963, chairman Kingston, Jamaica, 1961-1963.

President Commercial Cold Storage Company, Atlanta, 1963-1964. Trustee, member executive committee Institute Gas. Technology, Chicago, 1966-1972.

Chairman United States committee International Gas Union, 1973-1976. Advisory board national gas transmission and distribution, Federal Energy Administration, 1973-1978, Federal Power Commission, 1976-1978.

Achievements

• Robert Henry Willis has been listed as a noteworthy gas utility company executive by Marquis Who's Who.

Membership

Chairman corporation, trustee Northeastern University, since 1971. Board directors Boys Club of Hartford, Junior Achievement North Central Connecticut, Inc. Corporator Institute of Living, Mount Sinai Hospital, Hartford Hospital, St. Francis Hospital.

Member President' Private Sector Task Force (Grace Commission executive committee). General chairman Greater Hartford Community Chest Drive, 1966. Honorary chairman Greater Hartford Open, 1967.

President regional advisory committee Capital Region, Inc., 1967-1969. Member President' National Business Council for Consumer Affairs, 1971-1973. Chairman Connecticut Public Expenditure Council, 1972-1975.

Trustee Kingswood-Oxford School, 1968-1974. Member advisory board Salvation Army, 1970-1976. Director Connecticut chapter American Red Cross, 1971-1977.

Member industrial committee Young Men’s Christian Association, since 1970. Member Governor's Clean Water and Clear Air Task Forces, 1965-1970. Served to lieutenant United States Navy, 1943-1946.

Member American Gas Association (director, chairman 1980-1981, Distinguished Service award 1982, chairman technical committee, director since 1971, 76-78, communications executive committee since 1971, member, chairman various committees), Connecticut Business and Industry Association (director), Manufacturers Association Connecticut (director), Manufacturers Association Hartford County, Gas Research Institute (director 1977-1982), New England Gas Association (chairman 1974-1975), Greater Hartford Chamber of Commerce (chairman 1969-1970), Phi Kappa Phi.

Connections

Married Betty Jean Bellingar, March 16, 1946. 1 child: Mark.

Father:

Henry H. Willis

Mother:

Edith S. (Shackelton) Willis

Spouse:

Betty Jean Bellingar