Where Are They Now? Roy H. Grabman, B.S. ’67
Category: Alumni
THEN: Roy Grabman, B.S. ’67, enrolled at the University of Baltimore after earning an associate of arts degree from a community college in Dansville, N.Y., where his family lived. He wanted a career in a field now known as logistics, and UB was one of the few schools offering a degree in transportation distribution.
“The setting was different and exciting from what I had experienced in the past and the people were, for the most part, friendly and interesting,” he says. “Most of my courses were in transportation management with heavy doses of transportation law. Many of the instructors were professionals who worked in their chosen fields during the day and taught classes in the evening”—meaning he often had class until 10 p.m.
The late nights didn’t slow Grabman down. He joined the University’s Glee Club when it debuted in 1967, even though he was preparing to graduate. Having performed in high school drama productions and with church and college choirs, Grabman saw the club as a good fit. “We had at least one practice each week and performed for some type of school-sponsored holiday gathering. … One of the interesting aspects was explaining the meaning of some of the Christmas carols and customs to Glee Club members from non-Christian backgrounds,” he says.
NOW: After graduating, Grabman worked in the transportation department of Reynolds Metal Co., in Richmond, Va., until he was drafted into the U.S. Army and served in Vietnam. He later returned to Reynolds before joining oil services firm Halliburton, where he has held various positions dealing with domestic and international logistics. The Duncan, Okla., resident currently works in Halliburton’s global logistics department and is responsible for acquiring and managing a fleet of more than 1,000 railroad cars that transport bulk materials throughout North America.
More than 40 years later, Grabman is still performing: “I am also a member of [public-speaking group] Toastmasters International and have performed in over 20 productions with our local community theater,” he says.
