The University of Iowa Eight Over 80 Award

A native of Burlington, Iowa, Robert M. Fleming has parlayed his business acumen into a lifetime of community service and board leadership.

After winning three terms on the Burlington City Council, he likely was the oldest person, at age 82 ever to serve the city. Today, at 91, he continues to work as a substitute teacher and a mentor for local leaders.

After earning his business degree at the University of Iowa, Fleming returned home to grow sales at a startup manufacturing company. He helped develop a powerful distribution channel, the Winegard Company, that became the world's largest TV antenna maker.

The company's success, and Fleming's rise to vice president, allowed him to invest in community growth. He was a member of Burlington's development board for more than 25 years and was instrumental in bringing new businesses, and hundreds of jobs, to the area. He also served on the board of the Burlington Area Chamber of Commerce for two decades.

In addition, Fleming was a board member for Great River Health for 35 years—and president for 28 years—before retiring at age 84. To recognize his many contributions, the hospital named its executive conference room in his honor.

Fleming and his wife value education and have supported the Burlington Catholic schools that their five children attended before Iowa. Fleming was a member of the school board and has been a substitute Catholic high school teacher and proctor for the last five years.