Page 11 - Fall Winter 2023 FINAL FILE FOR WEBSITE USE

Interview with Bob Fields ‘51, continued...

basketball team. I had “After retirement I started a company specializing in
three scholarship offers telecommunications. It became successful enough to be
but declined all because listed on the NASDAQ stock exchange. When I travelled
I did not want to study the country promoting the stock a question I often got
English Composition.” was, ‘Mr. Fields, to what do you contribute your drive,
your ambition?’ My answer always was ‘my need to have
“So, you see Jon, it a bedroom of my own’.”
was not the classroom
education that prepared “In 1962, eleven years after finally passing arithmetic at
me for my future. It was HHS, I taught Calculus and engineering math at a local
the education I got from college.” – Bob
the people of Houlton,
by observing how I found some interesting statements in an article in
others lived in Houlton.” the 1951 North Star yearbook concerning Bob and his
basketball days that says a lot about his abilities and
“I wore a mask to hide my home life. The town took care success on the court if not in his younger off court
of me because of my popularity as a basketball player. experiences.
By that, I mean I had part-time jobs at stores in Houlton.
In my senior year, I was a ‘man on the street reporter’ for Eastern Maine Tournament Semi-Finals – 1951 – Houlton
the HPT. Many wealthy families invited me to their lake player, Jack Moran said “Without Bob Fields, star center,
homes to work the yards or tend the BBQ. It was during Houlton’s chances in the recent tournament looked
these interactions I learned how to relate to others. forlorn indeed.” The author’s article continued, “We were
You know the names of families that elevate Houlton; led by our phenomenal center, Bob Fields. Bob was every
Fitzpatrick, Putnam, Peabody, Callnan, Madigan, Dunn, coach’s dream center and was so good that he moved to
and Cummings, to name a few. I worked for and learned the strong Houlton Collegian semi-pro squad and was
from each of these families. I knew my place, so I never walking away with honors on their team too.”
spoke of it, but I envied them and wanted someday to be In closing this remarkable account of a wonderful alum,
like them. That is how I got my education in Houlton. The I think you will all feel the same sadness that I had when
people of Houlton were my teachers.” I first touched bases with Mr. Fields. I want to thank

“Everything changed for me when I joined the Air Force. his wife, Janice, and Lauren Fitzpatrick ’86 for letting
I entered basic training with sixty other men just like him know how important we felt his story was and
me in 1952. I no longer needed a mask. The service has that it needed to be told. That there are always good
a way of breaking down cliques. Unafraid to be myself, I things that can come out of bad times if you want to
finished at the top of my class in basic training and later make things happen for yourself. Lauren, a teacher at
in Officer Candidate School. Following my commission, our elementary school, told me her history with Bob in
I earned an engineering degree from the University working with some very gracious donations he has made
of Arizona and followed it up with an MBA from the to some student needs and she, too, has been moved by
University of Chicago. I retired from the Air Force after her work with him.
being promoted to Lieutenant Colonel in 1972.” Thank you so much for sharing your inspiring story with
us, Bob.

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