Serving Clovis, Portales and the Surrounding Communities
Serving Clovis, Portales and the Surrounding Communities
Bill Brunson
Editor’s note: This is a third report in a five-part series recognizing people in the community who made a difference in 2014.
Staff photo
When Habitat For Humanity director Joyce Davis accepted the help of former Eastern New Mexico University professor Bill Brunson, she got more than just an extra hand, she got a problem solver.
link Bill Brunson
“I asked for wisdom and I got Bill Brunson,” Davis said.
Brunson, 74, has been volunteering his time to Habitat for Humanity for just over a year and has lead the organization in relocating its ReStore from Portales to Clovis.
Davis said Brunson has been vital to the opening of the Clovis ReStore location. She said Brunson’s efficient and careful planning has helped to get the Habitat ReStore up and running.
“He does what needs to be done,” Davis said of Brunson. “He works hard, long days.”
Brunson said he volunteers three days a week to help with the operation of the ReStore. He said he does whatever needs to be done around the store, including picking up donations and preparing donations to sell.
Brunson became aware of Habitat for Humanity’s work after retiring from ENMU in 2011, and began talking to Davis to figure out how he could help the organization.
“We all want to give something back,” Brunson said of his drive to volunteer. “You want to make a difference even if you don’t get to spend a lot of time at it.”
Davis said Brunson works well with Habitat’s younger volunteers and has a knack for analyzing problems and solving them.
She said she met Brunson when they worked together at ENMU, but didn’t get to know him until he started helping at Habitat.
“It’s pleasant to see him in this role and how much he does for the community,” Davis said.
When Brunson isn’t volunteering his time at Habitat, he said he likes to travel. Brunson said he is a fan of long drives.
“I have family in Texas, Nebraska, and Kansas so I have reasons to travel. I just load the dog and go,” Brunson said.
Brunson said he also enjoys reading in his spare time.
