Robert W. Stafford

Ames, Iowa

Robert W. Stafford is a 1942 Ames, Iowa, High School graduate, who started his college education at Iowa State College and who has spent his entire professional career in Ames. But his degree in business administration is from Northwestern University, because, at the time, Iowa State did not have a business college.

Stafford’s college tenure was interrupted by World War II. He enlisted in the U.S. Army Air Corps and flew more than 30 missions over Germany as a B-17 co-pilot, earning the Distinguished Flying Cross and Air Medal with four oak leaf clusters. After the war, he worked in the insurance business in Des Moines, but he continued his military connection with the Iowa Air National Guard and saw additional duty
as a finance officer and pilot during the Korean conflict. He continued his service with the National Guard into the 1960s, retiring with the rank of colonel.

In 1954 he joined the First National Bank in Ames, where he had worked as a high school student. He became president in 1968 and was later named chairman of the board. He was also president and chairman of Ames National Corporation, the bank holding company that currently has five banking affiliates in central Iowa. He retired in 2003.

Stafford has been an active community leader and volunteer in Ames for more than 50 years. He is a member and past president of the Ames Noon Rotary Club, past board member and treasurer of the Ames Chamber of Commerce, past treasurer of Northcrest, Inc., and a member of numerous other boards and volunteer agencies.

Stafford has served as an ISU Foundation Governor since 1972, serving as treasurer and as chair of the investment and finance committees. He has also served on the College of Home Economics (now Human Sciences) Advisory Board, the ISU Research Park Board of Directors, and was co-organizer of the Fraternity Buyers Association at Iowa State. While a student, Stafford served as house manager, treasurer, and alumni advisor for his fraternity, Beta Theta Pi, and was business manager for the Iowa State Daily.

Stafford and his wife, Virginia, are life members of the ISU Alumni Association, members of the Order of the Knoll President’s Circle, and Curator Associates with University Museums. They have supported several university programs and projects, including the Gerdin Business Building. In 2003 the Robert Stafford Lecture Series on Banking was established in the College of Business with a gift from the Ames National Corporation.

The Staffords live in Ames and have four children: Maren Stafford Smith (’79 distributed studies), Marcia Stafford Jorgenson, Craig, and Brian.