Mr. Wilson was one of the most insightful leaders to ever lead major US corporations and to add his brand of excellence to many companies serving on their boards. He was known in books as the King of Turn Arounds since he turned around Rockwell International, Collins Radio, and Memorex as well as others serving on their Boards. The team he lead, trained and mentored at Memorex, where I served him as Vice President of Engineering, went on after the Sale of Memorex, to accomplish great things on their own, taping on his business concepts such as his 9 Key Result Areas, his Corporate Guidelines, his Position Guides, etc. etc. He made me look good, since he encouraged me to set up the Recording Technology Center as well as the Magnetic and Chemical Technology Center with leading industry technology leaders that added greatly to Memorex Value before it sold. Mr. Wilson was not only my revered leader, he was my best friend, going fishing, flying, (he was an excellent pilot), Gold Panning in Coloma, where gold was discovered. We always discussed the latest political issues, (He and I were very close in our conservative positions) traded jokes, pretty girls on the internet, and he and I went nearly every month to eat crab sandwiches at Duarte's in Pescadero. His favorite, after dinners at Carpaccio's and his favorite drink, Manhattan on the rocks. My heart was broken when I called to talk with him on February the 6th to be told by Deborah, that he had passed peacefully the evening before, with his family with him. That is the way to go. May God Bless His Wonderful So. Steven Puthuff
Bob Wilson was a VERY SPECIAL LEADER! I will NEVER forget him and his manner of leadership. I still speak of him today and have not yet met a finer leader. He saved us at Memorex Corporation in the early 1970's when our company was in debt $200,000. He turned everything around. ACP was his phrase. I would love to hear from his brother or any family member to tell my story. K. Krusick
It is with pain in my heart and tears in my eyes that I think my friend Bob. I went online this morning to look up Bob. Reading of his passing I cried for many hours. I called my girlfriend and told her how honorable, wonderful and helpful Bob had been to me. The world should know what a great man Bob was. I would love to hear from any family member to tell my story.
I miss my mentor and best friend, Mr. Wilson, so much. I remember with fondness when he would admonish me when I screwed up. One day in the Memorex board room after I presented our industry Technology Research results to Gordon Moore, he told me, "Great job, Steve, but when you are speaking to an industry ICON, you need to start your presentation with "i know i am preaching to the choir".
On Mr. Wilsons 1st anniversary I said a small prayer for him and thanked the good Lord for bringing him into my life. He was a giant among men, and a very insightful leader that motivated all of his staff and even those on the manufacturing floor, to go on to become great leaders after Memorex. His legacy will go on forever. I miss him greatly. God bless his soul.
Mr. Wilson expected greatness from all of his staff. He always had nothing but good to say about each of his team members. He would praise the results of EUMEA, and Americas and Asia, and Memorex Japan and others on a regular basis. He had a great sense of humor. At dinners he would always have these poems that he pulled from memories in his College years and never missed a word.
Mr. Wilson was no only my mentor, but my very best friend who I miss tremendously. I think of him regularly since his is in my boat as one of my go to friends in my place of peace. I so respected his advice and his guidance in difficult times. Mr. Wilson also had such a great sense of humor that he could pull from at any time. He would start with a poem that he remembered in college.
