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'''Robert Miller Guillot''' (b. January 2, 1922 – d. November 15, 2000)
'''Robert Miller Guillot''' (born [[January 2]], [[1922]] in Headland, Henry County; died [[November 15]], [[2000]]) was the second [[Mayor of Vestavia Hills|Mayor]] of [[Vestavia Hills]], serving from [[1960]] to [[1972]] and 22nd president of Florence State University (now the University of North Alabama), from 1972 to [[1989]].


Dr. Guillot served as mayor of Vestavia Hills from 1960 to 1972.  
Guillot was the son of Clarence Miller and Ruth Lindsay Guillot of Henry County. He attended [[Auburn University|Alabama Polytechnic Institute]] (now Auburn University) and graduated with bachelor of science in [[1943]]. He served in the U.S. Army Air Forces during [[World War II]]. Guillot married the former [[Patty Guillot|Patty Shirley]] on [[September 1]], [[1947]]. He completed a juris doctorate at the [[University of Alabama School of Law]] in [[1948]], and passed the Alabama Bar that same year. He worked as a sole practitioner in Dothan for three years.


Dr. Guillot was sworn in on October 3, 1960 and served three consecutive terms before he was named president of Florence State University (now renamed the University of North Alabama) by Governor George Wallace. Mayor Guillot was married to Patty Shirley Guillot on September 1, 1947 and together, they raised three children while living in the Birmingham area; Patricia Ann, Robert Miller Junior and Shirley Lynne.
In [[1952]] Guillot moved to [[Birmingham]] to take a position as senior vice president with the [[Vulcan Life & Accident Insurance Company]]. In [[1966]] he was named chairman of the board of the [[American Educators Life Insurance Company]].


'''ACCOMPLISHMENTS AS MAYOR'''
Guillot was elected Mayor of Vestavia Hills in [[1960]] and took office on [[October 3]] of that year and served for three four-year terms. During his years as mayor, Guillot worked with the [[Vestavia Hills City Council]] to formalize the order and procedures for Council meetings and legislation, passed as [[Vestavia Hills Ordinance No. 69]]. Vestavia Hills annexed the town of [[Mountain Woods]] as well as several unincorporated parcels and expanded the city's police and fire protection and other services over the rapidly-growing jurisdiction.


Completed the purchase of a 32-acre tract of land for Wald Park and created the Park and Recreation Board.
Also during his administration, the city purchased the 32-acre tract that became [[Wald Park]]. The [[Vestavia Hills Park and Recreation Board]] was created to manage the facilities, and the [[Vestavia Hills Civic Center]], [[Vestavia Hills Swimming Pool]] were all built there while he was in office.  


Constructed the first Post Office, community center and library, swimming pool, and additions for Vestavia Hills Elementary School.
Guillot also saw completion of the first [[Vestavia Hills Post Office]], the [[Vestavia Hills Public Library]], and the expansion of [[Vestavia Hills Elementary School East|Vestavia Hills Elementary School]]. During his term the [[Vestavia Hills Board of Education]] was created, separating the elementary school from the [[Jefferson County Schools|Jefferson County School System]]. Guillot became one of the leaders of suburban opposition to the "[[One Great City]]" plan to merge a number of small municipalities into the City of [[Birmingham]]. In his last year in office, Guillot served as president of the [[Alabama League of Municipalities]].


Established Ordinance #69 defining the order and procedures for City Council meetings, and gave the specifics for enacting legislation and adopting resolutions.
In [[1972]] [[Governor of Alabama|Governor]] [[George Wallace]] appointed Guillot to succeed E. B. Norton as president of Florence State University. He oversaw a period of exceptional growth of the college from 3,000 to 5,000 students and was serving when the institution's name was changed to the University of North Alabama in [[1974]]. He added a masters of business administration to the graduate curriculum and oversaw construction of the Education and Nursing Building (now Stevens Hall), additions to Collier Library, Flowers Hall, and the Student Union Building (later renamed Guillot University Center), as well as renovations to the Braly Municipal Stadium.


Working with the Mountain Woods City Council President, Dr. John Kent, Dr. Guillot expanded the city limits of Vestavia to include the former town of Mountain Woods.
Guillot was active in promoting campus life. He invited national Greek-letter organizations to establish chapters at UNA and promoted intercollegiate athletics with increased funding, improvements to sports facilities. He purchased a lion cub, named "Leo", in [[1974]] and housed it in an exhibit near the president's house to serve as a live mascot for the Lions.


Established the Vestavia Hills City Board of Education, severing the relationship with the Jefferson County Board of Education.
Guillot stepped down in [[1989]]. He served as chairman of the board of Colonial Bank Northwest in Florence from [[1990]] until his death ten years later. He was survived by his wife, Patty, and three children: Patricia Ann, Robert Miller Jr and Shirley Lynne. He was buried at Florence Cemetery. After his death the University of North Alabama and Colonial Bank established an endowed scholarship in his name.


Expansion of the Police, Fire and Municipal services to cover the rapidly expanding city boundaries.
{{start box}}
{{succession box | title=[[Mayor of Vestavia Hills]] | before=[[Verner Adams]] | years=[[1960]]–[[1972]] | after=[[John Scates]] }}
{{succession box | title=President of the University of North Alabama | before=E. B. Norton | years=[[1972]]–[[1989]] | after= Robert L. Potts }}
{{end box}}


Helped lead the opposition against the City of Birmingham’s attempt to merge several of the smaller surrounding municipalities into “One Great City”.
==External links==
* [http://www.findagrave.com/memorial/53983695/robert-miller-guillot Robert Guillot] at Findagrave.com


Preceded by: Verner Adams, Succeeded by: J. T. Scates
{{DEFAULTSORT:Guillot, Robert}}
 
[[Category:1922 births]]
== EARLY LIFE: ==
[[Category:2000 deaths]]
 
[[Category:Auburn alumni]]
Robert Miller Guillot, a native of Headland, Alabama, was born to Clarence Miller Guillot and Ruth Lindsay Guillot on January 2, 1922. He attended Alabama Polytechnic Institute (now Auburn University) and graduated with Bachelor of Science in 1943. After the end of WWII and his service in the Air Force, he then attended the University of Alabama and graduated with a Juris Doctor in 1948. He passed the Alabama Bar that same year.
[[Category:US Army personnel]]
 
[[Category:World War II veterans]]
'''PROFESSIONAL ACCOMPLISHMENTS'''
[[Category:Alabama School of Law alumni]]
 
[[Category:Attorneys]]
Sole practice in Dothan, Alabama, 1948 - 1951.
[[Category:Insurance executives]]
Senior vice president, Vulcan Life & Accident Insurance Company, Birmingham, 1952-1966.
[[Category:Vestavia Hills mayors]]
Chairman of the Board, American Educators Life Insurance Company, Birmingham, 1966-1972.
[[Category:College administrators]]
Association Alabama Life Insurance Companies, 1970-1971.
President Alabama League Municipalities, 1971-1972.
Chairman of the Board, Colonial Bank N.W., Florence, Alabama from 1990 until his death in 2000.
 
== PRESIDENT, UNIVERSITY OF NORTH ALABAMA ==
Dr. Robert M. Guillot served as UNA's President from 1972 to 1989 in Florence, Alabama.
 
President Guillot replaced outgoing President E.B. Norton on April 1, 1972, vowing to transform the small institution into a highly regarded regional university. What followed was one of the most significant periods of growth in the institution's history. Enrollment grew from slightly more than 3,000 to more than 5,000 in fewer than five years.
On August 15, 1974, the university underwent a name change from Florence State University to the University of North Alabama, symbolizing its coming of age as a comprehensive, regional university. The following year, the graduate curriculum expanded with the introduction of the master's degree program in business administration.
Guillot also directed a substantial expansion of the university's physical plant, including the construction of the Education and Nursing Building (now Stevens Hall), additions to Collier Library, Flowers Hall, and the Student Union Building (later renamed Guillot University Center), and renovation of Braly Municipal Stadium.
 
'''UNIVERSITY ACCOMPLISHMENTS'''
 
UNA Greek life - Dr. Guillot is described as the father of Greek life on campus. By 1974, he chose seven national fraternities to colonize UNA and followed a similar strategy with the sorority recruitment. President Guillot's decision to organize a UNA Greek system met with strong opposition by some segments of the administration. UNA Greek life is alive, well and continues to exert a major influence on virtually every facet of student life.
 
The Robert M. Guillot University Center - the Student Union Building was renamed in 2000 to honor Dr. Guillot. The sprawling Guillot University Center constitutes the hub of UNA student life.
 
UNA Hall of Fame, Induction Class of 1997 – Dr. Guillot made a strong commitment to athletics during his time as the UNA president. His goal of developing UNA into a major educational institution included a desire to achieve national recognition for the school through its athletic program. He accomplished that by laying the foundation for the Lion's rise to athletic prominence in the 1980s and played a key role in setting the stage for the Lions continued successes in the 1990s.  He led the way for major improvements in the Lions' athletic facilities, increases in athletic funding and scholarships and the hiring of coaches who have claimed five national championships. Guillot was also instrumental in UNA's early years in the Gulf South Conference, spearheading the search for the GSC's first full-time commissioner and playing an instrumental role in having the league office moved to a more central location in Birmingham, Ala. 
 
UNA Mascot - On July 22, 1974, Dr. Guillot brought a 35-pound lion cub to the campus and Leo spent the next 14 years "roaring" the school to victory. The original Leo died on Jan. 20, 1988, and Leo II was brought to UNA in July 1988. Both of these Leos lived in the compound directly adjacent to the president’s house.
 
Robert M. Guillot / The Colonial Bank Endowed Scholarship - This endowed scholarship was established to honor former University of North Alabama president Dr. Robert M. Guillot. This endowed scholarship is open to full time students of every major. Selection is based on academic potential and financial need together with a 2.5 GPA.
 
Preceded by: Ethelbert B. Norton, Succeeded by: Robert L. Potts
 
REFERENCES
https://www.una.edu/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/University_of_North_Alabama

Latest revision as of 07:49, 12 May 2018

Robert Miller Guillot (born January 2, 1922 in Headland, Henry County; died November 15, 2000) was the second Mayor of Vestavia Hills, serving from 1960 to 1972 and 22nd president of Florence State University (now the University of North Alabama), from 1972 to 1989.

Guillot was the son of Clarence Miller and Ruth Lindsay Guillot of Henry County. He attended Alabama Polytechnic Institute (now Auburn University) and graduated with bachelor of science in 1943. He served in the U.S. Army Air Forces during World War II. Guillot married the former Patty Shirley on September 1, 1947. He completed a juris doctorate at the University of Alabama School of Law in 1948, and passed the Alabama Bar that same year. He worked as a sole practitioner in Dothan for three years.

In 1952 Guillot moved to Birmingham to take a position as senior vice president with the Vulcan Life & Accident Insurance Company. In 1966 he was named chairman of the board of the American Educators Life Insurance Company.

Guillot was elected Mayor of Vestavia Hills in 1960 and took office on October 3 of that year and served for three four-year terms. During his years as mayor, Guillot worked with the Vestavia Hills City Council to formalize the order and procedures for Council meetings and legislation, passed as Vestavia Hills Ordinance No. 69. Vestavia Hills annexed the town of Mountain Woods as well as several unincorporated parcels and expanded the city's police and fire protection and other services over the rapidly-growing jurisdiction.

Also during his administration, the city purchased the 32-acre tract that became Wald Park. The Vestavia Hills Park and Recreation Board was created to manage the facilities, and the Vestavia Hills Civic Center, Vestavia Hills Swimming Pool were all built there while he was in office.

Guillot also saw completion of the first Vestavia Hills Post Office, the Vestavia Hills Public Library, and the expansion of Vestavia Hills Elementary School. During his term the Vestavia Hills Board of Education was created, separating the elementary school from the Jefferson County School System. Guillot became one of the leaders of suburban opposition to the "One Great City" plan to merge a number of small municipalities into the City of Birmingham. In his last year in office, Guillot served as president of the Alabama League of Municipalities.

In 1972 Governor George Wallace appointed Guillot to succeed E. B. Norton as president of Florence State University. He oversaw a period of exceptional growth of the college from 3,000 to 5,000 students and was serving when the institution's name was changed to the University of North Alabama in 1974. He added a masters of business administration to the graduate curriculum and oversaw construction of the Education and Nursing Building (now Stevens Hall), additions to Collier Library, Flowers Hall, and the Student Union Building (later renamed Guillot University Center), as well as renovations to the Braly Municipal Stadium.

Guillot was active in promoting campus life. He invited national Greek-letter organizations to establish chapters at UNA and promoted intercollegiate athletics with increased funding, improvements to sports facilities. He purchased a lion cub, named "Leo", in 1974 and housed it in an exhibit near the president's house to serve as a live mascot for the Lions.

Guillot stepped down in 1989. He served as chairman of the board of Colonial Bank Northwest in Florence from 1990 until his death ten years later. He was survived by his wife, Patty, and three children: Patricia Ann, Robert Miller Jr and Shirley Lynne. He was buried at Florence Cemetery. After his death the University of North Alabama and Colonial Bank established an endowed scholarship in his name.

Preceded by:
Verner Adams 		Mayor of Vestavia Hills
1960–1972 		Succeeded by:
John Scates
Preceded by:
E. B. Norton 		President of the University of North Alabama
1972–1989 		Succeeded by:
Robert L. Potts

External links

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