Marie Wood

NORTH MANKATO — f you ask artist Bob Williams about his legacy, he will point to the 600 to 900 students he has prepared for a career in commercial art.

At 60 years old, Williams is a gifted and trained fine artist, illustrator and graphic designer whose talent spans traditional art through digital art. But his true vocation was teaching commercial art at South Central College in North Mankato. This soft-spoken and modest man became an instructor there in 1979 and is retiring in June after 30 years.

“My purpose was serving and doing it as quietly as possible so the students gain notoriety,” said Williams of Vernon Center.

Williams teaches classic design principles by using old school techniques such as hand illustration, lettering and math. Then he combines it with intensive technical training using the Adobe Creative Suite and iMac computers. The result is students learn to think uniquely, solve problems and use technology as a tool, Williams said.

“Bob is exceptional in that he’s a creative individual that is deeply rooted in traditional design fundamentals. At the same time he’s a leader in technology,” said Brian Maciej, president of Lime Valley Advertising in Mankato and a department adviser.

Williams’s wisdom raises the quality of the program and gives SCC students a competitive advantage in the marketplace, Maciej said.

Williams graduated from SCC in 1973. At that time, artist Rod Furan of Lake Crystal taught the program that he implemented in the late 1960s. Williams punched a clock and worked all day to complete projects on deadline in a studio atmosphere.

That was the intense and focused training he needed to pursue a career in commercial art. He worked at Norwood Promotional Products in Sleepy Eye, Jostens in Owatonna and an advertising agency in Edina.

When Williams took over the two-year program from Furan, he stayed true to the studio-style training.

A technology leader


Computers have drastically changed the graphic design industry since Williams started teaching in 1979. Back then, there was no desktop publishing or Photoshop. The tools of the trade were drawing boards, pencils and X-Acto knives.

Williams was instrumental in the school’s investment in Macintosh computers and fellow graphic design instructor Kevin McLaughlin credits Williams with putting the school on the map in terms of technology.

When PageMaker came out in 1985, Macintosh computers become the new standard. Thanks to Taylor Corp. and Coughlan Cos., Mankato had its share of printers and publishers that were retooling and employees who needed new skills.

Companies under the Taylor and Coughlan umbrellas have always served on the department advisory board. So Williams went to the board for money to buy the school’s first Macs. Capstone Press, Glen Taylor and others wrote checks, Williams said.

By 1985, Williams was teaching Intro to Macintosh and PageMaker. By 1989, SCC added QuarkXPress and was one of a few schools licensed to teach the program in Minnesota.

Students, colleagues, school and business leaders alike recognize that Williams is an advocate of change. He has always pushed to develop new courses and embrace new technologies.

It shows in his cutting-edge curriculum that can be delivered online and offers amazing examples of his digital artwork, said Suzanne Nordblom, a dean at SCC.

“Every year he’s doing something new. Every year he raises the bar. He’s always dedicated to continuous quality improvement,” Nordblom said.

A dedicated teacher


Williams is with his class of 20 students from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m., which is typical in a vocational format. He can relate to all his students from the recent high school graduate to an older student.

“Each student is so different. There are so many different learning styles and you have to figure out how to approach each class. Each class has a different personality,” Williams said.

Former student Dawn Fellow is a graphic designer at Lime Valley Advertising in Mankato. As a 42-year-old student with no Mac experience, the program was intimidating at first, but Williams was patient as she learned her skills. When Fellow would stay late, Williams would jump in and work with her, she said.

“He was understanding of people’s lives and what they bring with them to the classroom,” Fellow said.

Throughout the program, students develop a portfolio of brochures, signs, advertisements, books, Web sites and more. And Williams develops students.

“You have to treat everyone as if they have something special. You have to figure out who they are and what to bring out,” Williams said. “Skill is second. You’re building people. If you miss that, you miss something altogether.”

Through his own character, Williams brings a high standard of integrity and ethics into his classroom.

“He is an absolute gem of a person,” said Keith Stover, president of South Central College. “He is warm, kind and caring.”

Retirement designs


Williams possesses a strong work ethic and self motivation. In retirement, he’s likely to continue helping people advance their careers in the art field.

Although Williams could freelance in graphic design, he doesn’t want to take jobs away from South Central graduates in a tight market. He thinks that would be a betrayal of the community’s trust.

“All of us have to help everyone through this,” Williams said.

Williams is also an accomplished painter and four of his paintings are on display at the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities chancellor’s office. However, Williams admits to having 100 to 150 paintings stored under the stairs in his home.

While Williams has some ideas for the future, retirement is still a blank canvas. It’s likely he will paint a new landscape for himself.

“My wife says I have to reinvent myself. As a teacher you can do so many things.”