Every year, thousands of children learn through exhibits built not by a toy company or museum design firm, but by UW-Stout Polytechnic alumnus Bob Fuller ('67, '68) and a community of fellow Stout graduates. Known affectionately as "Bob the Builder," for more than a decade he has transformed everyday materials into interactive exhibits, furniture and immersive learning spaces at the Children's Museum of Eau Claire, creating hands-on experiences that spark curiosity, creativity and problem-solving. His volunteer work recently earned him a Jefferson Award for community service.
While the projects may look playful, the thinking behind them reflects a lifetime spent combining creativity, design and technical problem-solving, skills first developed at UW-Stout Polytechnic.
"I've always told people that if you want to field test something, put it in the Children's Museum," Fuller said. "Kids can find more ways to explore, learn and make blunders than anyone. That's part of the fun and challenge. You try to think ahead far enough to minimize problems before they happen."
Long before digital design software simplified the creative process, Fuller learned his craft through hands-on experience. As a graphic arts student, he served as editor and photo editor of The Tower yearbook while working alongside classmates in university publications. Together, students designed layouts, processed film, set type using linotype machines and produced publications one step at a time. Those late nights in the print shop were balanced with evenings spent playing folk music, sharing ideas and building friendships that would last a lifetime.
After earning bachelor's and master's degrees from UW-Stout Polytechnic, Fuller spent over three decades at the UW-Eau Claire, beginning as television coordinator before moving into graphics, exhibit design, photography and eventually serving as director of the Media Development Center. Along the way, he helped create exhibits, educational displays and visual learning experiences across campus, building a career around making information engaging and accessible.
Pictured above is the group that has gathered for nearly 50 years.
Front L-R: Rich Dirks, Sandra Dirks, Connie Kees, Bob Fuller, Nora Stute Fuller, Carolyn Dunning, Martha Birch Knott, Earl Knott, Nancy Carlson, Gayle Carlson
Back L-R: Larry Haisting, Chris Haisting, Roger Kees, Bob Klimpke, Norma Anderson Klimpke, Jim Dunning, Cindy Zellers, Bob Zellers
Some of Fuller's most meaningful work is still created alongside the classmates he met while at Stout. Every summer for more than 50 years, Fuller and a group of fellow alumni have reunited, turning decades of friendship into projects that benefit their communities. Whether constructing a porch for a friend's home, rebuilding a deck or collaborating on projects for the Children's Museum, the group combines decades of experience in design, woodworking and craftsmanship. Many of the museum's most recognizable benches began during one of those annual gatherings, with ideas sparked by donated skis, discarded cribs, old church pews, encyclopedias, golf balls, reclaimed locker room wood and countless trips to other museums and thrift stores looking for inspiration.
The result is a museum filled with one-of-a-kind creations. Children can climb aboard the back end of a custom-built fire truck complete with working lights and sounds, create at handcrafted makers tables, explore the Brick Learning Lab, play with a large-scale Lite Brite, sit on benches made from golf balls, books or bowling equipment and interact with exhibits designed to make learning feel like play.
Today, Fuller works alongside fellow UW-Stout alumnus Mike Lee ('04, '11, '18), chief executive officer of the Children's Museum of Eau Claire, to create new exhibits and interactive spaces. Lee believes Fuller's work extends far beyond the exhibits themselves. "A lot of what we do, and Bob has been a big part of it, is teaching teamwork, communication and creativity," he said. "Kids discover that books can become a bench or everyday materials can become something completely different. They're exploring design and engineering without even realizing they're learning."
Their most recent collaboration is the museum's interactive donor recognition wall, a project that took nearly nine months to design. Rather than creating a traditional display of names, the pair developed an installation that encourages visitors to engage with it while sparking conversations about generosity, philanthropy and the people who make the museum possible.
Lee sees Fuller's impact every day. "Bob's work continues to inspire and educate," Lee said. "With our newest donor wall, it wasn't enough to just display names. We wanted families to engage with it, ask questions about why those names are there and start conversations about volunteering and giving back."
Fuller’s work extends beyond the Children's Museum. Fuller has also partnered with the Chippewa Valley Museum, Feed My People Food Bank, the Eau Claire Curling Club and numerous community organizations, applying the same mindset that has guided his work for decades: use your skills to create something that benefits others.
For Fuller, that's exactly the point. "The longer it lasts, the more fun it is," he said.
Looking back, Fuller credits retirement with giving him the opportunity to continue making an impact in new ways while enjoying the collaborative nature of the process with life-long friends. His advice to fellow alumni is simple: don't underestimate the value of your experience. "There's so much available out there that you can contribute to," he said. "When you find it, just go with it. People are very appreciative, and it just makes retirement a pleasure."
For Fuller, the real reward comes from watching children discover something new, seeing families connect through hands-on experiences and knowing that the skills he first developed at Wisconsin's Polytechnic University continue to inspire curiosity, creativity and problem-solving for the next generation.
