Alumni Achievement Award

honors alumni who have demonstrated outstanding achievement in their career or area of professional life.

Robert K. Dixon ’59 earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in business and chemistry at Valparaiso University. Robert started his career with Wyeth Laboratories as district manager. In 1962 he began work for 3M in numerous positions within the company and worked there for the next twenty years. In 1983, he and his wife, Carla, began RK Dixon, which provides a broad range of products and services for every critical office application. Robert sat as the company’s president and CEO until 2003 when he became Chairman of the Board. Robert retired this year from RK Dixon. He has been a strong supporter of the United Way and Orphans Hope, an organization that is dedicated to helping orphans in the Republic of Congo and Kenya. Robert was an active part of the Business Products Council Association from 1983 to 2009; he was a Board Member from 1983 to 1986 and was president in 1986. He was a member of the Valparaiso University College of Arts and Sciences National Council and Phi Delta Theta fraternity. Robert and his wife, Carla, live in Davenport, Iowa. Their two sons, Bryan and Jeff, currently work for RK Dixon.