by Bob Jacobsen '63

To say R.J. Machulies '62 is looking forward to his yearlong position as Chairman of the Board of the ASU Alumni Association would be putting it mildly. He is immeasurably excited.

"I think this is really a pivotal time in Arizona State University history and the history of the Alumni Association,'' said Machulies, who replaces outgoing Chairman Martin Shultz '66, '67 M.Ed., July 1. "It's an opportunity for both to grow in new and diverse ways.

"We have a real chance to make a huge impact internationally with all the things we're doing at ASU, and with that we have a real chance to enlarge our alumni base, too. It's an opportunity for a lot of people to become more involved.''

Machulies said much of his renewed enthusiasm stems from ASU President Michael Crow's vim and vigor.

"I find his objectives to be upbeat, stimulating and provocative,'' said Machulies. "We've certainly improved ourselves in the last 10 years through a steady climb to become a highly visible university, but now we have an opportunity to go above and beyond.

"We can become a world leader in technology, and that's fascinating and exciting.''

For R.J., or Robert John as he was tagged at birth, life in Arizona began in 1953. Born and raised in South Bend, Ind., he said he traveled the country, moving from place to place with his parents before they and his grandparents settled in Phoenix. He finished high school in 1957 at North High with fellow active ASU alumni Gary and Dianne Tooker and Bob Bulla.

ASU, he said, was a reasonable option for college.

"I thought it was a good school, and I got to live on campus (Best A Hall),'' he said. "I was in the same dormitory with Frank Kush's brothers and I worked at Saga Foods in the catering department, and had another job as an assistant head resident at Best A."

It was at ASU where he met wife Beverly (Adkins '64), a Phi Kappa Tau 1961 Cameo Girl. Machulies was chapter president for a year, and participated in student government. He graduated in 1962 with a B.S. in psychology and had designs on going into Human Resources (then personnel).

"But I wound up working for Salt River Project,'' he said. "I guess I really wanted to get out in the business world.''

He then took a job working for Exxon, moving to Claremont, Calif., where he and Bev lived for 29 years, raising a daughter, Michelle. During that time he worked for several manufacturing, recreational vehicle and water heater firms as a regional sales manager. But Bev, who worked for General Dynamics, was transferred to Tucson in 1994 when Hughes bought out GD (now Raytheon). But R.J. had no trouble moving.

"I became national sales manager for a national water heater manufacturer,'' he said, "and it really didn't matter where I lived. My territory covered the U.S. and Canadian markets.''

He became active in the ASU Alumni Association in California, where he met renowned ASU alumni Mike Haynes and Ed Carson. That was in the early 1990s.

"When we moved to Tucson, I kept up being active,'' he said. "It has been difficult being a member and living in Tucson. Many ASU alumni here don't overtly express their allegiance to ASU. I've had damage done to my vehicle because of my ASU license plates, and it has gotten pretty nasty here at times.''

But survive he has, and come July his perseverance will pay off as he becomes Chairman of the Board. Today he is owner of Signature Sales, a manufacturing representative firm for a number of plumbing and heating/air conditioning companies.

"I'm never one to look back,"he said. "I think you always have to look forward. That's why I'm so excited about ASU and this opportunity. I want to use my experience in life to do the best job I can, and always be adaptable to anything that happens.''

R.J. Machulies

Duane Oaks, R.J. Machulies and Bob Eger check out Best A Hall's trophy case in 1962.

1962 Sahuaro