Bob was born in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, on April 12, 1929, the eldest son of Harold LaVern Bills and Catherine Jean Leeming. As a child and also later in life, Bob is remembered as man full of passion in all his endeavors. He was a 1947 graduate of Western Michigan University State High School. Upon graduation, he received an appointment to the United States Naval Academy and received his commission as Ensign in 1951, with a Bachelor of Science Degree. Following the Academy, Ensign Bills was assigned to the USS YARNALL (DD541) and was deployed to the Korean War. In 1952, Bob was accepted into the “silent service” and attended Submarine School in Groton, CT. He served on the USS FLYING FISH and USS ANGLER before resigning his Commission and taking employment with the Up-John Company. In 1959, he became a Registered Professional Engineer with the State of Michigan. His love for the sea drew him back into the U. S. Navy in 1960 when he accepted an offer by Admiral Ward to re-enter the Navy and was assigned to USS CAVALLA. He was then transferred to USS SEALION where he was promoted to LCDR and became Executive Officer. Within a year, LCDR Bills fleeted up to become Commanding Officer of SEALION. While on SEALION, Bob participated in top secret missions, including intelligence gathering, the Cuban Missile Crisis, and as primary platform for UDT. As mentor and leader, he fostered an unsurpassed balance of professional proficiency and crew welfare that remains as a model to this day. SEALION was the recipient of the prestigious fleet-wide Marjorie Starrett Award for battle efficiency, while also achieving the equally prestigious recognition as “Rum-Runner of the Year“, during Operation “Hand Clasp” in the U. S. Virgin Islands. His next tour of duty as Commanding Officer of USS TUSK, once again resulted in the award of Battle Efficiency as well as the prestigious Arleigh Burke Trophy . Following TUSK, he was Promoted to Commander and assigned as Operations Officer of COMCARIBSEAFRONTIER in San Juan, Puerto Rico. Upon return to the United States, he was assigned as Executive Officer of the Submarine Base in Groton, CT. In this capacity, CDR Bills confronted seniors and vigorously fought for the equal rights of minorities. The subsequent “demise” of his career for shedding light on this (then) controversial and “avoided” issue, never overshadowed his self esteem and highest degree of integrity for doing what was right for minorities. He never regretted any of it, for an instant, in all his remaining days. His last assignment in the Navy was as Equal Opportunity and Race Relations Officer of the Naval Education and Training Center in Newport, Rhode Island. After a distinguished career in the Navy, he retired on 30 November, 1975. After retirement from the Navy, he continued to fish on his beloved dragger, The VANITY, which he proudly moored alongside pristine yachts at the Naval Boat Basin, much to the chagrin of the Senior Officers. His genius served him well during his subsequent employment with Department of Defense contractors at Hughes Aircraft Inc. and Singer (Librascope Division), where he was instrumental in the success of the Tomahawk Cruise Missile fire control system during the Gulf War. He remained very active in addressing civil rights within the Navy and corrected many wrongs through mediation and Class Action Law Suits. He was a lifetime member of the NAACP and served as Chairman of the Redress Committee in Newport, RI. He was drafted for public office by his admirers, and without significant campaign participation, was only narrowly defeated. But he continued to fight “City Hall” by confronting important issues through public meetings, letters to editors, and meetings with public officials. His passion was his family, woodworking, and collecting old tools. He is profoundly missed by those that had the privilege to know him. His unwavering integrity, flawless advice, wealth of knowledge, and unconditional love were his trademarks. We Love You, Dad! DBF! !