Robert L. "Bob" Erekson Construction Management

Upon returning from service in WW II, Robert L. “Bob” Erekson used his GI Bill to attend carpentry school. During the War, his wife, Louise, used her defense plant salary to purchase several building lots in Aurora, Illinois. Growing up in Utah, Bob and Louise’s plan was to build houses on the lots, sell them, and use the money to move to Utah. Bob’s mother, Grace Erekson, told him that if he was going to build houses, he should learn how to do it right, hence his enrollment in carpentry school. After working as a carpenter for about nine years, he and a friend established a home building company in Aurora, Erekson & Marshall Builders. They built 40 houses in a two year period in the mid 1950’s, but the company was not financially stable, so it was dissolved. Bob then established another company, Erekson Homes, and built a few custom homes.
After serving as the assistant building supervisor for the construction of a large church in Wilmette, Illinois, in the early 1960’s, he established another construction company, R. L. “Bob” Erekson & Sons. Again, he built several custom homes in the Aurora/Naperville, Illinois area. In 1968 he moved his family to Billings, Montana, where he established a custom camper manufacturing company, Pacer Campers, leaving the construction industry. In retirement he returned to his carpentry roots and worked part-time remodeling several motels in Billings, and at 83 years old, he helped his grandson, Robert J. Erekson, finish and trim his house that was being built in Haskins, Ohio. This scholarship is given in remembrance of Bob Erekson’s knowledge and love of building homes, buildings, and bridges.
CRITERIA:
 Minimum 60 credit hours earned with 20 credit hours in CSTM courses at WIU
 Major in Construction Management
 3.0 GPA at WIU with a 3.0 GPA in major
 One remaining full-time semester at WIU
 Demonstrated financial need
 Preference will be given to a married student

Award
$0.00
Questions regarding eligibility? Contact:
College of Business & Technology, Engineering Technology
Deadline
03/01/2025