William “Bus” Hubbard began his career in Chapel Hill in 1953 and retired in 2012. His citation praised his ability to make the campus beautiful.
“He is superbly proficient in an occupation whose dangers eliminate most competition from the start. In so doing, he has achieved renown as an expert, so that others from around the state come to consult him for his knowledge and skill at pruning, trimming, shaping and caring for large trees.
“There is no parachute for a tree climber. With his saddle, his single rope, his saw, his skill, his strength and his bravery, he has nurtured a legacy of beauty in whose shade generations of Tar Heels have been blessed.”
At the time he was recognized with a Massey Award, Hubbard had been the University’s only tree climber for 33 years. He had never had a fall or cut himself.