Keith Bowler, director of Purchasing, has earned a distinguished service award from the Canadian Association of University Business Officers recognizing 47 years of service. Since arriving at UBC as director of Purchasing in 1987, he and his team have developed cost saving systems which are used in universities across the country.

Bowler, a popular and cheerful figure on campus, retires Oct. 1, after which he will tend to his garden and travel. But he has also started a part-time consulting business, an endeavour that is already attracting the attention of universities and other institutions.