Robert Downer has an admirable philosophy on how he lives his life, and the way in which he adheres to it makes him the exemplary man that he is.

"I regard myself as being an incredibly fortunate person, to have had a good family, having had the ability to get an outstanding education, live in a terrific community, and be associated with wonderful people. There isn't really anything that I could ask for that I haven't gotten as far as my life is concerned. While I don't know why that is, I certainly feel that there is an obligation for one who has good fortune to try to give something back, and I've tried to do that," Downer said.

One of local organizations that has benefited from his good graces is the Oaknoll Retirement Residence. He was on the board of directors from 1967 to 1982, and remains on its board of advisers. With his help, their facilities have undergone numerous expansions, not only in accommodations and infrastructure, but also in programs available to improve the lives of seniors who live there.

The University of Iowa also has received much of Downer's time and dedication.

He received undergraduate and law degrees at UI, and ever since his freshman year he has worked to improve the university. He began on the student council, where he lobbied the state legislature for increased appropriations for students - one of the first to do that.

Now, 48 years later, Downer continues to work for students as a member of the Iowa state Board of Regents. He also serves on the board of the Iowa Law School Fundraising Foundation, and volunteered in the renovation and rededication of the Old Capitol as a bicentennial project in 1976 under former UI President Sandy Boyd.

The list of Downer's volunteering goes on and on, as it has for decades and will surely continue in the future.

"My children say that I spend all this time in civic endeavors because I am the mostun-athletic person on the planet, and that this is my way of compensating - filling up my time when other people may be out playing golf or tennis. Fortunately they got their athletic ability from their mother and not from me," Downer said.

- Jacob Maxson