In His Own Words: Dave Roberts '67 (UC Riverside Athletics Hall of Fame)
4/6/2016 9:00:00 AM | UC Riverside Athletics Association
My parents wanted me to attend UC Riverside for the academics, and I was recruited to play basketball by Frank Lindeburg. My field of study at UCR was mathematics. That was an easy choice for me because I loved it and was reasonably good at it. I wanted to be a college professor in mathematics.
My best memory of a particular game was at Cal Lutheran College when we won in overtime and we had to be protected by security when leaving the gym. The fans of Cal Lutheran were unhappy with the loss. My greatest memory was looking forward to practice every day, because I played with a great group and they are still friends today. My best memory just after graduating was tryouts for two professional basketball teams in the ABA.
After UCR, I went on to get a MA in mathematics, and then went to work for a small company doing computer programming. I became a manager in that company and after a few years it was sold to a very large software services company. I became a branch manager in the new company and within a couple of years purchased my branch office from that company. I was the President and CEO of that company from 1983 through 2010. We expanded to offices in Dallas and Atlanta in addition to Los Angeles. We sold the company to a large Canadian company in 2009. I retired in 2010.
UCR played a large role in my success. Of course, my training in mathematics helped me start out in programming, but the general education and the teamwork necessary to succeed in basketball were invaluable in business.
I believe we can be at the top of the Big West Conference in all the men's and women's sports. An example is the women's basketball team this last season. We have terrific coaches and athletic department leadership right now, and with support from the university management, the students, and the community we can have a top level program.Â
UCR is a great university and should have a great athletics program.
I believe athletics was a huge part of my college life at UCR, and has helped me be successful in business and in life. I feel strongly that I should give back to UCR Athletics as thanks for what it has given me and to help the current and future student-athletes be successful here. The giving can be in the form of volunteer work, attendance at events, or donations.
The athletics program is important to the university. It is helping some students go to college who otherwise wouldn't be able to, and I believe helping them be successful later in life. It provides entertainment and excitement to the students and the community, and as both get involved it is likely to create more people willing to volunteer time and money to help the university.Â
My best memory of a particular game was at Cal Lutheran College when we won in overtime and we had to be protected by security when leaving the gym. The fans of Cal Lutheran were unhappy with the loss. My greatest memory was looking forward to practice every day, because I played with a great group and they are still friends today. My best memory just after graduating was tryouts for two professional basketball teams in the ABA.
After UCR, I went on to get a MA in mathematics, and then went to work for a small company doing computer programming. I became a manager in that company and after a few years it was sold to a very large software services company. I became a branch manager in the new company and within a couple of years purchased my branch office from that company. I was the President and CEO of that company from 1983 through 2010. We expanded to offices in Dallas and Atlanta in addition to Los Angeles. We sold the company to a large Canadian company in 2009. I retired in 2010.
UCR played a large role in my success. Of course, my training in mathematics helped me start out in programming, but the general education and the teamwork necessary to succeed in basketball were invaluable in business.
I believe we can be at the top of the Big West Conference in all the men's and women's sports. An example is the women's basketball team this last season. We have terrific coaches and athletic department leadership right now, and with support from the university management, the students, and the community we can have a top level program.Â
UCR is a great university and should have a great athletics program.
I believe athletics was a huge part of my college life at UCR, and has helped me be successful in business and in life. I feel strongly that I should give back to UCR Athletics as thanks for what it has given me and to help the current and future student-athletes be successful here. The giving can be in the form of volunteer work, attendance at events, or donations.
The athletics program is important to the university. It is helping some students go to college who otherwise wouldn't be able to, and I believe helping them be successful later in life. It provides entertainment and excitement to the students and the community, and as both get involved it is likely to create more people willing to volunteer time and money to help the university.Â
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