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J-W file photo
Bob Billings |
Bob Billings, a developer, philanthropist and community leader in Lawrence for the past 50 years, died Thursday morning at his home after an illness.
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As president of Alvamar Inc., Billings helped lead the development of thousands of acres in western Lawrence. The development encompasses more than 3,000 acres of residential and commercial property, a nationally recognized public golf course, and the Alvamar Country Club complex. He worked with Realtor John McGrew and Mel Anderson on the project named for Billings' parents, Alva and Margaretta Billings.
A native of Russell, Billings came to Lawrence in 1955 to attend Kansas University, where he was an outstanding student and a guard on the Jayhawk basketball team. After graduation he worked as director of KU's Office of Student Financial Aid, a job he held for 10 years before leaving to devote full-time to the Alvamar venture.
His leadership at KU and in the community has resulted in many top honors including KU's Distinguished Service Citation in 1988 and the KU Alumni Association's Ellsworth Medallion in 1984. His honors in the community have included the Don Volker Award for community leadership, the Lawrence Chamber of Commerce Citizen of the Years award in 2002 and Kansan of the Year award from the Native Sons and Daughters of Kansas in 1989.